Strangles Update: Waikato Outbreak and Industry Guidance

Key Actions

• Do not present an unwell horse to race. Horses showing signs of illness must not be taken to trials, race meetings or any equine event. 
• Monitor temperatures daily. Check the temperature of every horse each day. A resting temperature above 38.5°C should be treated as a fever and investigated promptly.
• Practise strict biosecurity. Clean and disinfect equipment, vehicles and shared surfaces, and maintain good personal hygiene to help prevent the spread of infection.
• Do not move horses if there is any concern. If a horse has been exposed, is unwell or Strangles is suspected, do not move horses on or off the property until you have spoken with your veterinarian.
• Seek veterinary advice early. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect Strangles or have concerns about the health of your horses.
• Protect the wider industry. Doing the right thing helps protect racing, breeding, sales, exports and the health and welfare of all horses. If in doubt, don't move horses.

Current Strangles Situation

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA) are continuing to closely monitor the current Strangles situation and can confirm there is an active outbreak in the Waikato. Industry participants are urged to remain vigilant, follow recommended biosecurity practices and seek veterinary advice immediately if they suspect a horse may be infected.

Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial disease of horses that spreads primarily through direct horse-to-horse contact and contaminated equipment, people and transport vehicles. Early recognition and prompt isolation remain the most effective ways to limit spread.

The outbreak is primarily affecting training and pre-training properties, with a small number of stud farm properties also impacted. At this stage, the outbreak remains isolated to the Waikato region.

Our focus remains on providing clear, consistent guidance that supports effective disease management while allowing racing to continue safely and helping protect New Zealand's sales and export markets.

Industry Guidance

Following discussions involving NZTR, NZTBA, veterinarians and other industry partners, two documents have been developed to support the industry:

Strangles Industry Update – providing practical information and guidance for owners, trainers, breeders and industry participants:

Strangles Monitoring, Recommended Protocols and Biosecurity – developed by a group of seven respected equine veterinarians working in the Waikato region to assist industry organisations and properties in developing appropriate biosecurity protocols during the current outbreak:

Participants should note that these recommendations include the use of Serum Amyloid A (SAA) testing. While SAA testing is available in the Waikato and Auckland, it may not currently be available in all regions. This remains a developing situation and guidance will continue to be reviewed and updated as new information becomes available.

Biosecurity Best Practice

Good biosecurity protects everyone

Most outbreaks can be contained through early detection, isolation and good biosecurity. One of the greatest challenges with Strangles is that some horses can continue to carry the bacteria after appearing clinically recovered, making appropriate veterinary testing important before returning horses to normal management.

NZTR encourages all participants to work closely with their veterinarian if they have any concerns about a horse's health and continue following good biosecurity practices:

• Avoid sharing tack, grooming equipment, feed bins, or water sources between horses.
• Clean and disinfect equipment such as halters, buckets, grooming tools and lead ropes regularly.
• Thoroughly clean stables and yards, removing contaminated bedding, manure or nasal discharge.
• Clean and disinfect horse floats, trucks and other transport vehicles between uses.
• Monitor horses closely following travel or attendance at events where horses from multiple properties have mixed.
• Isolate any horse showing signs of illness and seek veterinary advice promptly.

If you suspect a horse may have Strangles, contact your veterinarian immediately and avoid moving the horse until veterinary advice has been obtained.
 
NZTR, NZTBA and the NZVA will continue to share information and guidance with industry participants as required. By remaining vigilant and maintaining good hygiene and biosecurity practices, we can collectively minimise the impact of disease and protect the health and welfare of New Zealand's horses.

What trainers should do:
Under Rule 320A, trainers are responsible for the care, control and supervision of horses in their charge. If any horse develops a fever, nasal discharge, swollen lymph nodes, or other signs consistent with Strangles:

• Immediately isolate the horse from others.
• Contact your veterinarian for advice and testing.
• Do not transport the horse until veterinary advice has been received.
• Monitor in-contact horses closely, including taking daily temperatures.
• Treat any suspect case as Strangles until testing confirms otherwise.
• Most importantly do not present a horse that is suspected to be infected with Strangles at a Raceday.

Reminders for Racing Clubs:
Racecourses and training facilities play an important role in reducing disease transmission. Clubs are encouraged to:

• Maintain good hygiene in shared facilities.
• Ensure wash-down areas and common equipment are regularly cleaned.
• Encourage participants not to share water buckets, feed bins or grooming equipment.
• Support trainers who need to isolate horses by providing appropriate communication and advice where required. 

Reminders for horse transport companies:
Transport providers are an important part of preventing disease spread between properties. Please ensure:

• Floats and trucks are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between consignments.
• Equipment such as lead ropes, halters and buckets are not shared between horses.
• Drivers use good hand hygiene and change protective clothing where appropriate when visiting multiple properties.
• Horses showing signs of illness are not transported without veterinary guidance.

For further information on Strangles, please visit the NZEHA website or speak with your veterinarian:

Kind regards,
NZTR Welfare Team
thoroughbredwelfare@nztr.co.nz