Argentina has started clinical trials on treating COVID-19 using hyperimmune serum developed with antibodies from horses, authorities from the laboratory involved said on Wednesday.
The British Horseracing Authority announced on Friday a £22 million (US$27.5 million) aid package in response to the financial impact of the coronavirus. All racing in Britain was suspended on Mar 17 following the spread of COVID-19, with the shutdown made indefinite on Wednesday as a hoped-for resumption on Apr 30 was ruled out.
The FEI (International Equestrian Federation) and the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) will jointly host a conference in Guadalajara, Mexico on 24 October focusing on modernizing international movement of horses in South America.
In spite of its love for horses, Argentina is the world’s leading exporter of horse meat having shipped 23.880 tons in 2010, valued 75 million US dollars according to the country’s Animal health and Agro-food quality service, SENASA.
SENASA, Argentina’s National Food Safety and Quality Service, issued a statement suspending all transportation of horses in the Buenos Aires province for two weeks due to an outbreak of Viral Equine Arteritis.