SINGAPORE has lifted the ban on horses coming in from Australia, following the containment of the Equine Influenza (EI) outbreaks last August.

A statement from the Singapore Turf Club on Tuesday said: 'Permission has been given for the resumption of Australian-based horses into Singapore.'

It said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority has been monitoring the situation of EI in Australia and worked with the Australian veterinary authorities on an import protocol, which has built in additional safeguards to ensure that horses imported from Australia into Singapore are free from EI.

Tests, vaccinations and other veterinary requirements are also required during the quarantine period as safeguards.

STC said the first batch of Australian imports is expected to arrive in Singapore in early April. The first case of EI in Australia was confirmed in a stallion at Eastern Creek in Sydney on Aug 24.

When news broke in late August last year that the dreaded EI had surfaced in Australia, it sent shock waves throughout the racing industry.

Also known as 'horse flu', the rapid outbreak was of the Influenza A virus strain of subtype H3N8. While the virus is highly contagious, it rarely kills adult horses but the performance of thoroughbred racing horses can be affected for several weeks. It can be fatal to young foals and debilitated horses.

Because of strict quarantine procedures to reduce the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering Australia, this was the first outbreak of EI in Australia. Horses in Australia had not been exposed to the virus and are not vaccinated and hence were fully susceptible.

By Aug 27, more than 400 horses on 50 properties in New South Wales (NSW) had been quarantined after showing symptoms.

The NSW government subsequently made the ban on horse movements and race meetings indefinite. The state was declared free of equine influenza on Feb 29. Queensland, the only other state affected by the outbreak, has no infected properties and is expected to be declared EI free within a few weeks.