It was recently reported in the Wall Street Journal that Glanders was found in horses in the Olympic Rio Complex prior to the Olympic horses arriving. Glanders is a deadly incurable disease caused by the bacteria Burkholderia mallei. It is characterized by ulcerating lumps in the upper respiratory tract, lungs and skin. The disease can spread to people and is fatal in horses. After an incubation period of 3 days to 2 weeks, affected animals usually have septicemia (blood poisoning), high fever, weight loss, and, subsequently, a thick nasal discharge and respiratory signs. Death occurs within a few days.
How will this affect Rio? Apparently among a number of horses recently put to sleep in Rio as a result of the disease, were two that had been housed in the Olymipc complex prior to the Olympic horses arriving. Since that time, the facilities have been effectively cleaned and sanitized.
While the Rio horses are present at the Games, a bubble system will operate where the Rio horses will only ever come in to contact with other Rio horses within the complex. The worry is, with so many horses and humans coming in from all over the world, how will they effectively stop the disease from entering in the first place?
The disease can pass through nasal discharge, from infected animals touching each other such as through tack and water buckets. It is easily passed between both horses and humans. The tricky issue is that it is also very difficult to test for and there is no cure. The animals, if infected are put to sleep.
As well as Rio being an area known for the disease, as is India. At present India are dealing with their own outbreak, where else will it pop up? With horses due to start arriving in Rio at any time, are the precautions that are being taken enough, especially given the ease with which the disease can pass and the fact that it is incurable. Plus, with such a long incubation period, how will you know that it is even present until it is too late?
How will this affect Rio? Apparently among a number of horses recently put to sleep in Rio as a result of the disease, were two that had been housed in the Olymipc complex prior to the Olympic horses arriving. Since that time, the facilities have been effectively cleaned and sanitized.
While the Rio horses are present at the Games, a bubble system will operate where the Rio horses will only ever come in to contact with other Rio horses within the complex. The worry is, with so many horses and humans coming in from all over the world, how will they effectively stop the disease from entering in the first place?
The disease can pass through nasal discharge, from infected animals touching each other such as through tack and water buckets. It is easily passed between both horses and humans. The tricky issue is that it is also very difficult to test for and there is no cure. The animals, if infected are put to sleep.
As well as Rio being an area known for the disease, as is India. At present India are dealing with their own outbreak, where else will it pop up? With horses due to start arriving in Rio at any time, are the precautions that are being taken enough, especially given the ease with which the disease can pass and the fact that it is incurable. Plus, with such a long incubation period, how will you know that it is even present until it is too late?
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