Hendra horse virus warning

Horse owners and the racing industry need to be on the alert for any signs of the Hendra virus, especially with the summer racing carnival starting soon, says Opposition Racing, Gaming and Liquor Spokesman Mick Murray.

Picture: Racing trials at Lark Hill attract over 500 horses.

He said it took two days before horses generally showed any symptoms of the deadly virus and in that time they could have moved from the Eastern States to Perth, which could expose racehorses or show horses i n Rockingham and Kwinana to the virus.

Last year, Racing and Wagering WA racing training centre manager Dudley Corbett said 500 racehorses used the Lark Hill training track and the area, which has about 134 trainers, accounted for about 25 per cent of all starters at metropolitan and inner-provincial races.

Rockingham City Council said there were 44 licensed stables in the area, and the Town of Kwinana said it had 102 registered stables.

Mr Murray said he wanted the State Government to take a tougher approach to quarantine, given that up to June, 19 horses had died and the virus continued to mystify veterinary officers.

‘‘It concerns me there doesn’t seem to be much concern shown by the WA Department of Agriculture, and certainly more public education and awareness needs to take place,’’ he said.

The Department of Agriculture recently releasedWAHorse Alert, a new biosecurity guide for the industry.

A spokeswoman said there was a small risk that horses arriving from eastern Australia that had been in close association with flying foxes in the few weeks before travelling to WA could have contracted the Hendra virus.

‘‘New arrivals from at-risk areas in the Eastern States should be monitored for signs of illness for at least seven days,’’ she said.