THERE'S been an outbreak of 'horse herpes' at a Grand National-winning trainer's facility in Worcestershire.

The outbreak of equine herpes virus (or EHV) was at the licenced training yard of Dr Richard Newland in Elmbridge, Worcestershire, said the British Horseracing Authority yesterday (June 9).

Trainers who saddled runners at certain races - including Ladies day at Worcester Racecourse - have been warned to be on their guard. 

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The statement said: "We are grateful to Dr Newland and his veterinary team for their prompt diagnosis and for notifying the BHA, as required under the Rules of Racing.

"Movement restrictions have been placed on the affected yard to limit any future spread beyond the premises, with further diagnostic sampling underway to establish the precise strain, which is yet to be confirmed but is presumed to be EHV-1.

"We are not aware of any confirmed cases in other yards, but we ask that trainers and veterinary surgeons remain vigilant to the clinical signs of EHV, and advise twice-daily temperature checks for all horses. We would also remind trainers that any horse with a fever/pyrexia should not travel to a racecourse at any point.

"Moreover, while there is a relatively low risk of transmission in a bio-secure race day environment, it is possible that the horses in question were infectious before the disease was diagnosed."

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The body has asked that trainers who saddled runners at the following fixtures are especially alert to the signs of the disease:

  • Uttoxeter Racecourse, Thursday 2 June
  • Worcester Racecourse, Saturday 4 June
  • Southwell Racecourse, Monday 6 June

Dr Newland declined to comment when contacted by a Worcester News reporter. 

Dr Newland won the Grand National in 2014 with Pineau du Re.

EHV is a common virus that occurs in horse populations worldwide and is endemic in the UK.

Any horse showing clinical signs of EHV should be investigated immediately, and veterinary surgeons have a responsibility to report communicable diseases under the BHA Rules of Racing.

The two most common types of EHV are EHV-1 causes respiratory disease, abortion in pregnant mares and neurological disease in horses of all ages and types.

EHV-4 usually only causes low-grade respiratory disease but can occasionally cause abortion.

Following the first infection, the majority of horses carry the virus as a latent infection that can reactivate at intervals throughout life.