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A total of 132 Hong Kong race horses were infected with equine herpes in the territory's worst outbreak of the disease, a year before the city will host the equestrian event of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The horses fell sick since Feb. 9, showing symptoms of mild fever, blood problems and swelling in the legs, and among them five horses pulled out of races Monday, said Hong Kong Jockey Club spokesman Wilson Cheng.
Cheng said the equine herpes virus isn't new to Hong Kong but the latest outbreak is the territory's biggest in history.
"We've never had an outbreak involving so many horses," he told The Associated Press in a phone interview.
The horses also fell sick despite being vaccinated against the herpes virus, but Cheng said that wasn't a dangerous sign.
"Even if you're vaccinated against the flu, it doesn't mean you're totally immune. You may get mild symptoms, but they can be quickly controlled," he said.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club said in a statement the sick horses recovered within a few days and most returned to training within a week. It said Hong Kong's strong surveillance and disease control measures helped limit the impact of a "potentially serious" outbreak.
Cheng said Jockey Club officials suspect the herpes spread by shared horse equipment.
