GLANDERS DEVOURS HYDERABAD WINTER SEASON 2025–2026
A Deadly Equine Outbreak Forces Complete Cancellation of Racing at Malakpet
In a devastating blow to the Indian racing circuit, the Hyderabad Race Club (HRC) has been forced to call off the entire Hyderabad Winter Racing Season 2025–2026. The culprit is Glanders—one of the most feared infectious diseases in equine history, notorious for its rapid spread, high fatality rate, and grave zoonotic risk.
Glanders is a highly contagious and often lethal bacterial disease caused by Burkholderia mallei, a pathogen that primarily affects horses, donkeys, and mules. The disease can surface in multiple forms—nasal, pulmonary, or cutaneous (farcy)—and may present acutely or chronically. Disturbingly, humans are not spared; infection in people can be severe and frequently fatal if not treated urgently.
Why Glanders Is So Dangerous
Cause
-
Bacterium: Burkholderia mallei, known for its ability to invade and destroy tissues rapidly.
Modes of Transmission
-
Direct contact with infected equines.
-
Contaminated feed, water, or stable equipment, enabling silent spread within yards.
-
Zoonotic transmission, usually through breaks in the skin or inhalation of contaminated droplets—posing serious risk to handlers, veterinarians, and stable staff.
Forms of the Disease
-
Nasal Glanders:Severe nasal discharge, ulceration inside the nasal passages, and nodules that break open.
-
Pulmonary Glanders:Lung involvement leading to coughing, difficulty breathing, and in advanced stages, pneumonia.
-
Cutaneous Glanders (Farcy):Nodules, ulcers, and a characteristic rope-like thickening of lymphatic vessels along the limbs and body.
Symptoms Observed in Horses
-
High-grade fever
-
Lethargy and unwillingness to work
-
Rapid weight loss
-
Thick, yellow nasal discharge
-
Persistent coughing
-
Ulcerations on the nose and skin
-
Pneumonia in later stages
No Known Cure — Only Containment
-
Immediate testing of all in-contact horses
-
Strict quarantine procedures
-
Culling infected animals
-
Tight biosecurity regulations and import controls
Given the density of horse population at Hyderabad’s training facilities and the high-contact nature of racing stables, the Hyderabad Race Club had no viable option but to shut down activities completely to protect the wider racing community.
A Season Lost, A Hard Lesson Reinforced
The abandonment of the Hyderabad Winter Season 2025–2026 is a significant operational and financial setback—not only for HRC but also for owners, trainers, jockeys, and racing enthusiasts nationwide. Such a blanket cancellation, though rare, underscores the severity of the threat posed by Glanders.
Racing at Malakpet is now expected to resume only with the Hyderabad Monsoon Season 2026, tentatively scheduled for July 2026, by which time authorities hope to have the situation fully contained and certified safe.
In the long run, this episode serves as a stark reminder of the necessity for constant vigilance, rigorous testing, and uncompromising biosecurity standards within Indian horse racing.
No comments:
Post a Comment