MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CORE GROUP CONSTITUTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EQUINE INFLUENZA HELD AT 11.30 A.M. ON SUNDAY, 30TH NOVEMBER 2008, IN THE BALL ROOM, TURF CLUB HOUSE, PUNE:
Present:
Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla - Chairman, RWITC Ltd.
Mr. Shivlal Daga - Chairman, Co-ordination Committee, TAI
Diwan Arun Nanda - Representative of WIRHOA Ltd.
Mr. Geoffrey Nagpal - Representative of WIRHOA Ltd.
Mr. Shiven Surendranath - Representative of WIRHOA Ltd.
Mr. N.H.S. Mani - Deputy Secretary, RWITC Ltd.
Dr. D. Swaminathan - Senior Veterinary Officer, RWITC Ltd.
Mr. Pesi Shroff - Representative of WITA Ltd.
Dr. Anil Kumar - Representative of WITA Ltd.
Dr. Hasneyn Mirza - Consultant appointed by WIRHOA Ltd.
Having been duly proposed and seconded, Dr. Cyrus S. Poonawalla took the Chair for the meeting.
Letter dated 29th November 2008 from Mr. Zavaray S. Poonawalla was read and considered wherein he had mentioned that as much as he would like to attend this meeting to share views and ideas for the betterment of race horses and the fraternity, he was unable to do so because of bio-security reasons, in that as he was attending his stud farms; he was unable to attend this meeting as he was keeping himself away from anybody who was in touch with horses at Pune Race Course or with horses at any other places. He had further mentioned that he was however on standby during the time the Core Group meeting was underway and would be pleased to receive a call in case the Core Group wishes to discuss any matters with him. He was granted leave of absence from the meeting.
On being asked, Dr. Hasneyn Mirza stated that horses should start slow work only after completion of six to eight weeks from the start of the symptoms of Equine Influenza. If the horses were permitted to work before completion of six to eight weeks from the start of the symptom they were likely to become poor performer / bleeder and their racing career was likely to be jeopardized. After six to eight weeks they could be given slow work for a month and gradually take up their normal work. He added that as per advice, one day of cough needs one week rest. He added that there was a small percentage of horses which were unaffected by Equine Influenza who could start slow work.
Dr. Mirza emphasized on the need of having Standard Operating Procedures in place for various diseases such as Equine Influenza, Glanders, Strangles, herpes etc. He stated that no other country would allow the horses to come from a country who keep these diseases under the carpet. He further stated that this would also affect the credibility and therefore it would be imperative to have systems in place.
Dr. C.S. Poonawalla and Diwan Arun Nanda concurring with the views expressed by Dr. Mirza also stated that it would be better to have the systems in place including protocol for prevention of outbreak of such diseases.
Dr. Mirza stated that the National Research Centre for Equines was really a good laboratory and all the Race Courses should be associated with this lab until an alternative arrangement was made so that testing could be done in these labs.
Dr. Poonawalla stated that there should be a short term and long term plan separately. He stated that the immediate requirement was to deal with the present situation and then to make a long term plan.
It was noted that blood picture of all the horses were taken before they were permitted to work and this was to be done without fail for all horses even in the future.
Mr. Geoffrey Nagpal stated that though some of his horses have completed four weeks after the last clinical symptom they appear to be not ready to work and therefore they would have to wait for some more time before they start working. Mr. Shiven Surendranath sought to know whether four weeks should be completed from the date of the last symptom or from the start of the symptom. Dr. Hasneyn Mirza reiterated that horses could start work only after six to eight weeks from the start of the symptom. Dr. Mirza also stated that whilst he was observing the work of horses in the morning, it appeared to him that couple of horses were coughing. Mr. Daga stated that in this season slight cough is normal but if any horses cough regularly then such horses should be taken off from the work.
It was decided that only horses which have completed six weeks from the start of the symptoms or four clear weeks of rest after relief of suffering from Equine Influenza, whichever was later, should be permitted to work.
Thereafter a discussion took place at which time Mr Shroff stated that Fibrinogen Test could be conducted on all horses. He stated that he had done this test for some of his horses wherein some infection was shown in some of the horses. He stated that he had done this test at a lab called Lalpath Lab in Pune and each test cost about Rs. 700/-.
On being asked Dr Swaminathan stated that the Equine Hospital of the Club does not have the facility to undertake Fibrinogen Test as it requires Autoanalyser. He said that whilst getting the test done at human laboratories, there could be variation of the results by 12% to 20% since the unit was calibrated for human beings. He further stated that fully automatic machines were available for undertaking this test as also other tests; however, it would take about a month's time to procure this machine.
Dr Swaminathan was asked to find out the feasibility of getting the Fibrinogen Test of all horses done at a Lab in Pune and the cost thereof. Mr Geoffrey Nagpal requested Dr Poonawalla that the cost of this test should be borne by the Club. Dr Poonawalla stated that he would take up this matter at the next Committee Meeting.
Dr Swaminathan was asked to brief as to what had transpired at the meeting held in Hissar on 29th November 2008, which he did. Whilst doing so, Dr Swaminathan informed the Core Group that the National Research Centre for Equines performed PCR and Gene Sequencing of the samples tested for positive for Equine Influenza and they were in the verge of identification of the virus strain involved in the outbreak and they promised to send the above report in three weeks time. They were also seriously thinking about making the vaccines if the strain involved was Ludhiana strain; however vaccine production would take about 8 to 12 months for commercial distribution. He further stated that the Acting Director of NRCE also reported that Ludhiana Strain isolated during the previous outbreak resembles Kentucky strain which was present in the Fluvac Innovator Vaccine. Col. Marwa from the Army informed during the off hours of the meeting that he used DIRECTIGEN FLU-A readymade kits manufactured by Becton Dickinson for the diagnosis of Equine Influenza antigen using the nasal swabs during the initial period of fever and viremia stage and found that these kits were very reliable and efficient in diagnosing Equine Influenza in the early stage.
A discussion took place regarding vaccination of horses at which time it was noted that some of the vaccinated horses were also affected by Equine Influenza. Dr Swaminathan was asked to ascertain an accurate data as to how many vaccinated horses were affected and how many were not affected by the Equine Influenza.
Mr Daga stated that Fluvac Innovator was the vaccine which presently appears to be most effective from information with him. He also stated that if the present outbreak was a different strain then the vaccine makers abroad could include if new vaccines provided Government allowed the strain to be given to them. He went on to say that vaccination was not 100% foolproof as even after mandatorily vaccinating horses in USA and UK periodically, Equine Influenza was endemic in these countries. He stated that the vaccination could perhaps help about 80% of the population and only about 20% may be affected.
Thereafter Dr Swaminathan elucidated on the statistics of horses worked wherein he stated that a total of 180 applications for saddle cloths were received; however during examination of horses prior to work, three horses were found to be abnormal and therefore not permitted to work. The remaining 177 horses worked. During work it was observed that one horse was coughing and another horse had slight nasal discharge. Both these were previously unaffected horses and these horses were taken off from the work till they improved. More horses will work as and when applications are received and horses checked for fitness.
A discussion took place regarding movement of horses to Mumbai, at which time, on being asked Dr Mirza stated that horses can move provided they work for a few days so that they would have the stamina to travel. It was decided that no movement should take place till end of December 2008.
Thereafter the undermentioned Trainers who were present were invited to join the meeting:-
Mr S K Sunderji Mr Subhag Singh Mr Altaf Hussain
Mr Hosidar Dhaji Mr Amjad Khan Mr Jayantilal Ghor
Mr Sanjay Kholse Mr Nana Raghunath Mr Adil Dajee
Ms Nina Lalvani Mr Vinayak Mr Nosher Cama
Mr Narendra Lagad Mr Imtiaz A Sait Mr Magansingh P Jodha
Mr Sangramsinh N Joshi Mr Rehanulla Khan Mr. C.D. Katrak
Mr. Dallas Todywalla
Dr Poonawalla welcomed the Trainers for the meeting.
At the outset he announced as under:-
"It is with deep regret and sorrow that I address a few words to all of you on the tragedy that has befallen on the City of Mumbai.
On behalf of all of you, I take this opportunity to condole all the families who have lost their near and dear ones, as also salute those Commandos and Police Officials who have laid down their lives in martyrdom.
I know that no words are sufficient to console the bereaved families; but let us all pray for the souls of those who have been murdered in this tragedy.
May I request all of you to join me and the Managing Committee and Stewards of the Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd., to stand up in complete silence for two minutes as a mark of respect for the departed souls."
All present at the meeting, stood up in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect for the departed souls.
Since Dr. Poonawalla had to temporarily leave the meeting, he requested the others to continue and he left the meeting.
Mr Arun Nanda informed the meeting that the Western India Race Horse Owners Association Ltd. has appointed Dr Mirza as Consultant as he was handling Equine Influenza outbreak in RCTC and also in touch with several international experts. By this appointment, Dr Swaminathan would get external assistance from Dr Mirza. Mr Nanda asked the trainers to give their feed back about the horses that were already put into work. He requested Dr Mirza to brief the meeting about his experiences to the trainers, Dr. Mirza informed the trainers that minimum of 6 weeks rest to be given from the first date of clinical symptom for Equine Influenza. Dr Mirza stated that when there was outbreak of Equine Influenza abroad it was experienced that the horses that were taken early to work did not perform and hence trainers were advised to give more time to the horses for complete recuperation.
Dr Swaminathan briefed the trainers that after checking the blood picture and auscultation of the horses, new saddle cloth numbers were issued permitting them to work. In case of any suspicious finding of the Auscultation/Blood picture, issuing the saddle cloth number to that horse would be delayed. He cited an example wherein he has already not permitted three horses to work as he came across some abnormalities in the lung sounds/heart rate pattern of these horses.
Dr Poonawalla rejoined the meeting at this stage.
One of the trainers asked Dr Mirza as to how early the horses in Australia started work after the Equine Influenza outbreak and were thereafter found to have setbacks to which Dr Mirza stated that he would have to find out the exact details and he will inform the trainers. He stated that if the horses start work before 6 weeks from the date of first clinical symptom, the performance of the horse was likely to drop and these horses require adequate rest.
On being asked it was clarified that no horse should be permitted to work if they have not completed 6 weeks from the first clinical symptom for Equine Influenza or 4 clear weeks of rest after relief of suffering from Equine Influenza whichever was later.
The trainers present requested that they be given copies of the blood reports in respect of their horses and Dr Swaminathan stated that the same would be provided to them.
With regard to shifting, the trainers were informed that there would be no movement to Mumbai till end of December 2008.
It was decided to hold the next meeting in Pune at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday, 14th December 2008.
There being no other points the meeting terminated.
