2 weeks ago
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Nearly 200 samples from horses utilized for joyrides, on with samples from handlers, person been sent to the ICAR–National Research Centre connected Equines (NRCE), Haryana, for investigating aft a horse utilized for joyrides successful Chennai metropolis died of glanders, a highly contagious and notifiable bacterial illness that affects equines.
There are implicit 200 horses utilized for joyrides astatine the Marina, Elliot’s, and Kovalam-Mahabalipuram beaches, galore of them housed successful impermanent shelters successful Triplicane and Ice House, and nether the Sivananda Salai MRTS station. These horses are often kept successful mediocre conditions, arsenic their upkeep is expensive, and handlers and owners gain excessively small to support them adequately. While the State mandates licences, registration, screening tests, fittingness certificates, and vaccination records for equines, enforcement remains poor.
S.P. Amrith, Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Tamil Nadu, said authorities were acting successful accordance with the prescribed enactment plan. “Samples are being collected regular since Saturday [May 16] and sent to the ICAR-NRCE each day. As of Monday, 126 samples were sent. Around 40 to 50 much volition beryllium sent tomorrow. In addition, samples from handlers person besides been collected and sent by the Directorate of Public Health,” helium said connected Monday. On Tuesday, samples were collected astatine Besant Nagar beach, the Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary successful Adyar, and successful Kovalam.
In August 2025, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), nether the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, issued the Revised National Action Plan connected Glanders, aimed astatine strengthening surveillance, prevention, control, and eradication of the contagious and often fatal illness crossed the country. The plan, however, reduced the surveillance and regularisation areas. Major revisions see reducing the infected portion from 5 km to 2 km, redefining the surveillance country from 5-25 km to 2-10 km, and aligning restrictions accordingly, which volition present use lone up to a 10-km radius.
As per the guidelines, animals that trial affirmative indispensable beryllium humanely euthanised successful accordance with prescribed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), followed by disinfection of the premises.
‘No origin for concern’
Mr. Amrith said though glanders is zoonotic, which means it tin beryllium transmitted to different animals and humans, determination was nary large origin for concern. Referring to his tenure arsenic Collector of the Nilgiris, helium said joyride horses successful specified districts were routinely screened for diseases. “For glanders, determination is simply a protocol, and it is being followed. There is nary crushed for alarm,” helium said, adding that the ICAR-NRCE would contented confirmation lone if samples tested positive.
