MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CORE GROUP CONSTITUTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EQUINE INFLUENZA HELD AT 4.00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, 11TH NOVEMBER 2008, IN THE MEETING ROOM, ABOVE THE WEIGHING ROOM, RACE COURSE, MUMBAI:
Present:-
Mr Shivlal Daga – Chairman, Co-ordination Committee, TAI
Diwan Arun Nanda – representative of WIRHOA Ltd
Mr Gautam Lala – representative of WIRHOA Ltd (in the absence of Mr. Geoffrey Nagpal)
Mr Pesi Shroff - representative of WITA Ltd
Mr NHS Mani - Deputy Secretary, RWITC Ltd
Dr D Swaminathan - Senior Veterinary Officer, RWITC Ltd
Chairman of the Meeting:- Having been duly proposed and seconded Mr Shivlal Daga took the Chair for the meeting. Mr Daga clarified that he was only chairing this meeting and has not accepted to be on the Core Group.
Leave of absence:- Mr Zavaray S Poonawalla, representative of the RWITC Ltd and Dr Anil Kumar, representative of WITA Ltd were granted leave of absence from the meeting.
Resignation of Capt Jamshed Appoo from the Core Group:- The Core Group noted that Capt Jamshed Appoo who was nominated by the RWITC Ltd to serve on the Core Group has resigned from the Core Group.
Diwan Arun Nanda referred to his e-mail dated 10th November 2008 addressed to the Secretary of the Club and sought to know whether the resignation of Capt Appoo was effective and if so whether anybody in place of Capt Appoo would be nominated to serve on the Core Group. The Deputy Secretary replied that the letter of resignation of Capt Appoo was being placed before the Committee of the Club at its meeting to be held on 17th November 2008 and he would be able to revert only thereafter.
It was clarified that Mr Shivlal Daga was attending this meeting as Chairman, Co-ordination Committee, TAI, that too at the request from the representatives of the WIRHOA Ltd on the Core Group. It was further clarified that Mr Gautam Lala was attending this meeting in the absence of Mr Geoffrey Nagpal, who was out of the country.
Mr Daga said that he was unable to visit Pune now and then and as such will not join the core group.
Daily statistics:- Diwan Arun Nanda stated that the Core Group members should receive daily data from Dr Swaminathan as to the total fever case – recurring (running for a few days) and new for that day, horses coughing and horses with nasal discharge and secondary infection. Dr Swaminathan stated that he was sending this information by SMS to the Committee, Stewards, etc. every day and since he did not have the mobile numbers of the Core Group Members he could not send it to them. However, he would ensure that this information is sent to the Core Group members also on a daily basis. It was decided that Dr Swaminathan should sent this daily information to the Deputy Secretary, who in turn will forward the same, by email to the Core Group members.
Appointment of a Consultant:- Diwan Arun Nanda sought to know the decision of the Committee on WIRHOA's recommendation to appoint a Consultant Vet viz. Dr Hasneyn Mirza. The Deputy Secretary informed the meeting that the letters of WIRHOA Ltd including the letter containing this request was already forwarded to the Committee of the Club. He further stated that Dr Cyrus S Poonawalla, Chairman of the Club, who is currently in Tokyo had directed him, prior to his departure to Tokyo that, in his absence the Deputy Secretary should inform the other Committee Members to take decisions in this regard and not to withhold any decision until Dr Poonawalla returns. The Deputy Secretary further mentioned that he would contact the Committee Members available and inform the Core Group of the decision in the matter. The Core Group recommended that Dr Mirza be appointed as a Consultant in this regard so that Dr Mirza alongwith Dr Swaminathan could deal with the problem. The Core Group also requested for a decision from the Committee of the Club as early as possible.
Mr Shivlal Daga's email informing all the Clubs about the outbreak of Equine Influenza:- The WIRHOA Ltd representatives stated that they were given to understand that Mr Daga had already sent an e-mail a couple of months ago regarding outbreak of Equine Influenza and they sought to know the reason for the Club not acting on it.
Mr Daga responded that he and Mr Zavaray S Poonawalla were members of the Board of National Research Centre on Equines and that he had attended a meeting of the NRCE sometime in end July 2008. One of the items on the agenda for the said meeting was steps being taken by NRCE teams to combat Equine Influenza which had surfaced in the hill tracts of the north. Accordingly, after the meeting, on 6th August 2008 he had sent an e-mail addressed to the Secretary-General, Turf Authorities of India, Senior Veterinary Officers and National Horse Breeding Society of India, which email he had forwarded to all the Clubs as well. He stated that his email was on the agenda for the meeting of the Stewards of the Club held on 30th August 2008 at which meeting consideration of this item was deferred. Mr Daga mentioned that he was not present at the Stewards Meeting held on 30th August 2008. Subsequently, Dr Swaminathan had approached Mr Daga in this regard when Mr Daga told Dr Swaminathan to make enquiries in this regard with NRCE to ascertain the situation. Dr Swaminathan spoke to the person concerned at NRCE who mentioned to Dr Swaminathan that there was nothing serious and there was nothing to worry about this matter. Therefore the matter was not taken seriously. Mr Daga stated that the only mistake which the Club's office made was his e-mail was not circulated to the WIRHOA Ltd and WITA Ltd.
During further discussions, Mr Daga stated that as per his information some of the army mules which went to Vishnodevi Temple with VVIPs were affected by Equine Influenza and which was spread to Army Studs, 61 Cavalry and Nicholson Range and so on. It is probable that this disease has come to Pune with the horses came for the Youth Games as the Rajasthani syces may have had contact with their brethren working at Pune. However, this is only a surmise .
Mr Daga added that the NRCE has isolated equine influenza virus from affected equines of Katra in Jammu and Kashmir and the samples received from the other states were under process. Sub type-2 virus was involved in this outbreak. He also mentioned that the immunogenicity of new strain was yet to be studied. The immunogenicity of strains may vary if variant strain affects the equines in new outbreak. It is expected that subtype-2 vaccine which is being prepared by NRCE on an experimental basis may give protection to healthy and uninfected horses against this infection. Any subtype-2 vaccine available in market may also be helpful. He also mentioned that as per NRCE there was no report of this disease in August till late September 2008.
Mr Daga stated that though some studs had got Equine Influenza to the best of his knowledge at least Yeravada Stud and Poona Stud had no cases due to strict isolation at Pune. The disease was spread more by people than any other way.
During further discussion it was noted that 75% of the horses which were vaccinated earlier were not affected by Equine Influenza but the others were.
Mr Daga also informed that whatever may have been the disease/cause for fever cases reported at Race Course and Studs earlier than third week of October 2008 it certainly was not Equine Influenza because there was no cough, nasal discharge and the cases were sporadic. If it was Equine Influenza then all horses would have got it like at present and not sporadic cases spread over months.
Documents considered:- The following documents which were placed on the table were considered:
(a) Details submitted by the Senior Veterinary Officer for the period 3rd November 2008 to 11th November 2008.
(b) E-mail dated 10th November 2008 from Capt. Jamshed Appoo.
(c) E-mail dated 11th November 2008 from Capt. Jamshed Appoo.
(d) E-mail dated 10th November 2008 from Diwan Arun Nanda.
(e) Letter dated 6th November 2008 from Mr P Shroff and Dr Anil Kumar, Members of the Core Group together with the biosecurity control measures suggested by Bio Corp Ltd.
(f) Letter dated 7th November 2008 from Dr P K Uppal, Technical Director, Diagnostic Research Laboratories, RWITC forwarding therewith the guidelines for control of Equine Influenza issued by Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries vide letter no.F No.53 – 95/2008 – LDT (LH) Dated 31st October 2008.
Course of Action:- A further discussion took place at which time the Core Group unanimously felt that it is pointless going into the past and that the focus should be on the future course of action to surmount the problem encountered.
On being asked, Mr Daga explained to the other members of the Core Group as to how to proceed as per his opinion based on papers he has studied and advice he has received. He stated that the horses which had not suffered from Equine Influenza anytime after 21st October 2008 due to vaccination or otherwise can start trotting for 3 minutes with immediate effect under the supervision of a Panel of Veterinarians appointed by the Club. Such horses would be checked by the Panel of Veterinarians before they go to trot. After coming back from the trot the Panel of Vets would again check these horses with Stethoscope (not endoscope) especially to ascertain whether the lungs are showing any abnormality. If there is anything wrong with any horse, then such horses would not be permitted to trot. He stated that it may be possible that the stress as a result of trotting may cause some of these horses showing the latent Equine Influenza or fever and if it happens, such horses should be isolated and kept far away. Those horses who have completed four clear weeks after relief of suffering from Equine Influenza can also be trotted for 3 minutes as stated above. He emphasized that no horse would be permitted to work without clearance from the Panel of Vets appointed for the purpose.
Those horses which are okay after trotting for a week can start shifting to Mumbai. Thus horses will shift in batches. Also horses which now continue to show nasal discharge should be segregated at one far location so they do not pass on secondary infection to the other recovered horses.
Six weeks from the first sign of Equine Flu should be over and the horses would not be shedders of the virus so as to contaminate non-affected horses if movement was started from 2nd week of December 2008. Mr Daga also stated that he was open to correction by the Senior Veterinary Officer and Mr Shroff as they were hands on persons who dealt with horses on day to day basis.
The Core Group deliberated at length after which the following decisions were taken:-
(a) An advisory note be sent to all trainers and owners based on the guidelines of control of Equine Influenza issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and the start of working of horses as opined by Mr Daga and accepted by the Senior Veterinary Officer & Mr. P. Shroff should also be incorporated therein. Further, the proposal for sanitation and disinfection suggested by Bio-Corp Ltd should also be incorporated in the advisory note.
(b) The proposal for sanitation and disinfection suggested by Bio-Corp Ltd as also as contained in the guidelines of the Ministry should be implemented forthwith. Directions were given that this should be done departmentally and the Estate Department should be asked to do so.
(c) The Senior Veterinary Officer should obtain the horse wise data in a scientific way to ascertain the period of fever, nasal discharge, coughing, etc. of each horse which data would be useful for deciding the start of working horses, etc.
(d) Before the horses shift to Mumbai, the entire stable area at the Mumbai Race Course should be disinfected atleast three times to reduce the bacterial load.
(e) A further advisory be issued before movement of horses pertaining to disinfection of trucks/floats etc. and any other measures to be taken. Mr Daga agreed to attend that meeting of the Core Group.
(f) The possibilities of having vehicle dips in the stable area at the Mumbai and Pune Race Courses should be explored and if possible the same should be done.
Mr Shroff requested Mr Daga to address the trainers in Pune with the procedures and protocol which would be of great help to the trainers. Mr Daga reluctantly agreed to the same. It was therefore decided to hold a meeting of the Core Group and Mr Daga with the trainers at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday, 15th November 2008 at the Turf Club House, Pune. It was agreed that except Dr Swaminathan no other vets would be present.
There being no other points the meeting terminated.
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