S'pore bars horses from Malaysia

S'pore bars horses from Malaysia

SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore has barred the entry of horses from neighboring Malaysia out of fear of a deadly virus, a government spokesman said on Sunday.

Singapore suspended live pig imports on Friday to block an outbreak of what is believed to be deadly Japanese encephalitis that has killed more than 50 people in Malaysian pig-breeding areas and triggered a cull of 300,000 swine.

The ban on horses was in response to the announcement by Malaysian health officials on Friday that a second virus had been found which could be related to the Hendra virus that killed two people and 16 horses in Australia in 1994.

Among the horses stranded by the ban were race horses on the regular Malaysian racing circuit that includes Singapore. Singapore jockeys may also be called up for medical checks.