Olympic site plagued by horse disease

Brazil investigating the outbreak that can affect humans as well, says officials.

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazilian officials said late on Wednesday that they are investigating an outbreak of the highly contagious disease glanders among horses stabled close to the site of next year’s Olympic riding contests.

There is alarm in the equestrian community over the appearance of the disease just when riding events start on Thursday to test the Olympic preparations at Rio de Janeiro’s Deodoro complex.

The Agriculture Ministry says at least one horse diagnosed with glanders and subsequently killed to stop the disease from spreading had spent several months in Deodoro, which is just a few hundred meters from the Olympic site.

However, officials insisted there was no risk of the disease — which can infect humans as well — spreading to participants during this week’s test events.

In total, 17 horses diagnosed with glanders are being kept in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state, awaiting further examination and extermination.

Glanders is a sometimes fatal, incurable disease which causes ulcers in the respiratory tract and spreads through cuts, sneezing or contaminated food and equipment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th,  2015.

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