2 more horses test positive for glanders

Their samples were sent to Hisar-based National Research Centre on Equine on December 15 and January 5,but the reports came in last Saturday.

The department has banned animal fair and races in Bijnore and nearby districts — Moradabad,Baghpat,Ghaziabad,Jyotiba Phule Nagar,Saharanpur,Rampur,Muzaffarnagar,Bulandshahr and Gautam Budh Nagar.

“We have asked chief veterinary officers in these districts to take the help of administration in restricting the movement of animals,” said Dr AK Saxena,Deputy Director,Animal Husbandry.

As a result,the 29th All India Police Equestrian Meet,which was to be organised at the BR Ambedkar UP Police Academy in Moradabad between February 12 and February 19,has been cancelled. Moradabad is about 50 kms from Bijnore and teams from all police and paramilitary forces had confirmed participation.

Academy Director Udayan Parmar said the event will now be hosted by Indo-Tibetan Border Police at their academy in Chandigarh.

Both infected horses are from Rasoolpur village in Jalilpur block. Of the four horses euthanised last month,one was from Rasoolpur,the rest were from Akanda and Akbarpur Gonja villages.

On Sunday,a team of veterinary doctors went to the owner of the horse which is still alive,to make arrangements for its isolation,pending safe disposal,because the bacteria can infect both animals and humans.

“The owner,Mustaq,was not ready to accept that his horse was suffering from a fatal disease. He wanted a second test and we are conducting it,” said Dr Bhudev Singh,a veterinary doctor posted in Bijnore.

The vets have told Mustaq that he has to keep the animal in an isolated covered shed,and only one member of his family should feed it after taking all precautions. Mustaq,a tonga driver,says he had bought the animal for Rs 60,000 a couple of months ago.