The Ministry of Agriculture has taken steps to restrict movement from the area and is carrying out a full investigation into the case.Morton also reiterated the fact that based on advice from the Foot and Mouth Reference Laboratory in the United Kingdom steps were taken, several weeks ago, to introduce a disinfection protocol for all horses arriving from the European Union. With this in place the risk of horses contracting the disease is considered negligible.Morton also stressed the quarantine facilities that the Dubai World Cup horses are housed in are such that the risk of them coming in contact with this or any other disease is equally negligible.These facilities have been visited and inspected by veterinary authorities from a number of countries including Australia and are considered some of the best in the world.All horses in the Emirates for the Dubai World Cup meeting are held in separate regional groups with horses from the European Union in a separate quarantine facility 1,500 meters away from the other groups.
Their training times are separate and there is no contact between horses from different regions until race night.
Morton said that foot and mouth disease would not survive under this regime, let alone be passed onto other horses or transported by horse returning home.