How Are Racehorses Faring in the Fight Against COVID-19?

Korea Racing Authority Busan Gyeongnam Racing Park, "No Epidemic Issues"

Quarantine → Vaccination → Disinfection → Surveillance, Comprehensive Horse Biosecurity Plan in Effect

Racehorse receiving an infectious disease vaccination.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Fighting against COVID-19, how do racehorses manage infectious diseases?

It has been over a year since the first COVID-19 patient was reported in South Korea. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and local governments are making every effort to manage quarantine measures to prevent COVID-19.

Recently, cases of COVID-19 infection have been reported in animals such as dogs and cats domestically. Fortunately, according to the Korean Veterinary Medical Association, COVID-19 is not a fatal disease for animals and its transmissibility is not high.

However, animals can suffer significant damage from infectious diseases just like humans. When livestock infectious diseases occur, the disease can spread easily, causing many animals to die and resulting in huge economic losses.

Therefore, prevention is more important than anything else.

The Korea Racing Authority Busan-Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters establishes a comprehensive quarantine plan every year and focuses on quarantine efforts. The main areas include ▲quarantine of incoming horses ▲vaccination and deworming ▲disinfection ▲infectious disease surveillance ▲pest animal control.

Busan-Gyeongnam Race Park conducts quarantine on all horses entering the race park to block the introduction of infectious diseases.

When a horse owner applies for admission, the quarantine officer checks the vaccination records and randomly selects subjects for on-site clinical examinations.

If there are no abnormalities, admission approval is granted, and after entering the stables, another random clinical examination is conducted once more in the stables.

Vaccinations are administered for three diseases: equine Japanese encephalitis, equine influenza, and strangles. Incoming horses must complete vaccination at least 14 days before admission.

If vaccinations are not administered, restrictions on racing participation and forced removal are imposed. Vaccines and dewormers are supplied free of charge by the Korea Racing Authority.

Disinfection is operated separately for livestock infectious disease prevention and COVID-19 prevention.

An external professional disinfection company is selected to intensively manage vulnerable periods for equine infectious diseases, and to prevent COVID-19, facilities related to racing are disinfected after races, with additional disinfection of staff office spaces and dining areas.

A quarantine officer at the Korea Racing Authority Busan-Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters said, “This year as well, we will strive to improve hygiene conditions within the race park and prevent livestock infectious diseases to maintain smooth race operations. This will also help reduce the risk of livestock infectious diseases in nearby livestock farms.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.