Canine coronavirus threat has NSW greyhound racing industry on red alert

A canine coronavirus breakout is the latest threat to NSW greyhound racing, with the industry taking a tough stance to prevent its spread. FIND OUT WHAT IT MEANS HERE.

With three confirmed cases of canine coronavirus at properties in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, greyhound participants across the state remain on high alert with a raft of restrictions in place to prevent its spread.

But infectious disease experts have stressed people cannot catch the infection from dogs which are suffering from a different strain.

With the virus first taking grip in parts of southeast Queensland, it was revealed on Friday that the kennels of leading Victorian trainer Rob Camilleri had been forced into lock down after confirmation greyhounds in his care had tested positive to the virus.

Following the confirmed cases at the Lara property, Greyhound Racing Victoria moved swiftly by implementing a range of statewide restrictions, including prohibiting interstate nominations at Victorian meetings for the foreseeable future.

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WARNING: FIRST HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSFER OF CORONAVIRUS

Late Monday, Dr Michelle Ledger, chief veterinary officer at the NSW Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission, said that while participants must stay vigilant the commission will continue to monitor the situation and introduce more stringent controls if necessary.

“The commission is contacting trainers in affected areas and asking those with suspected cases to come forward for free testing,” Dr Ledger said.

“For now it’s about being as vigilant as possible — identifying symptoms and taking a commonsense approach to the situation. Put simply, to avoid spread it is imperative that trainers isolate affected greyhounds in order to minimise the risk of spread to healthy greyhounds.

“It’s important that participants practice good hygiene methods which include disinfection of all trailers and transport, boots, bedding, muzzles, leads and other equipment that may pose a risk of infection to other greyhounds.”

While southeast Queensland is considered the epicentre of the gastrointestinal disease, no race meetings have been lost north of the border.

Some trainers are taking the proactive step of immunising against the canine coronavirus via C7 and C2I inoculations.

Greyhound trainers in NSW have been asked to be as vigilant as possible — identifying symptoms and taking a commonsense approach to the situation.

“We are currently advocating vaccinations for puppies in outbreak areas only,” Dr Ledger added. “At the current time that’s confined to just the Northern Rivers region.”

Infectious diseases experts confirmed there is no need to quarantine a dog over fears they could catch the strain of coronavirus currently sweeping the world.

The strain that has broken out in greyhounds is different to Covid-19 which has sparked worldwide panic.

Last week, the World Health Organisation officials sent a shiver down the spine of pet owners when they said a dog in Hong Kong had tested positive to the Coronavirus Covid-19.

Scientists still do not know whether the dog contracted the virus or whether the virus was found on a contaminated surface during the test.

Australian National University Professor of infectious disease Peter Collignon said there was no proof that Covid-19 spread to cats or dogs.

Public already concerned with the global coronavirus will be surprised to hear that NSW is also caught up in a canine coronavirus.

“Currently all available evidence shows that the disease first came from bats, and the spread of it since then has all been from human-to-human,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“The short answer is that no, you can’t catch the virus from your pets. People do not need to quarantine their cats and dogs.”

“You do not need to worry about contracting it in Australian meat either. If the meat is cooked properly — heat is a terrific way of killing bugs in food — it is safe to eat.”

Scientists do not yet know how the virus first started but believe it had something to do with bats as both the virus and the animal share similar genetic codes.

University of Sydney infectious diseases expert Dr Robert Booy said the disease has mostly been spread through coughing and sneezing.

This type of canine coronavirus is not fatal to greyhounds and it cannot be spread to humans.

“It can be spread through the air when people sneeze or cough, tiny particles are transmitted a short distance in the air. Also, if someone coughs or sneezes some fluid which then sits on a benchtop of railing — it can be contracted through that,” he said.

“It could also be spread by the ingesting faecal matter but that is only a small percentage of how it has been spread.”

“Those at risk are people with chronic illnesses or those who are over the age of 65.”

A type of coronavirus has been found in greyhounds in Grafton and Victoria.

This type of virus is not fatal to the animals and it cannot be spread to humans.

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Originally published as Canine coronavirus threat has NSW greyhound racing industry on red alert