🔥 Trending Strangles Outbreak Affects Horse Racing in New Zealand

An outbreak of Strangles, a highly contagious bacterial disease affecting horses, ponies, and donkeys, is currently impacting New Zealand, particularly in the North Island ⁷⁸⁹.

Current Situation and Impact

As of July 2026, the outbreak is being closely monitored by organizations such as New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA) ¹⁶.

• Location: The outbreak is primarily concentrated in the Waikato region, with cases also reported in Auckland ¹²³. It has affected at least 12 properties, mostly stud farms ²⁷.
• Severity: This current outbreak is considered the worst in recent years, despite Strangles being endemic within New Zealand's horse population ²⁴.
• Contagion: Strangles is a serious bacterial infection that causes fever and painful abscesses in the throat ⁷⁸. It is highly contagious, and approximately 10% of infected horses can become silent carriers, leading to sporadic re-emergence of the disease ²⁴.
• Industry Response:
• NZTR has implemented new health requirements for all horses accepted to race or trial to minimize the risk of spread ⁵. These measures aim to allow racing and trialling to continue safely ⁵.
• The outbreak has led to delays in racing trials and raised concerns within the thoroughbred breeding and export industries ⁸¹⁰.
• Horse owners and trainers are urged to remain vigilant, follow biosecurity practices, and seek immediate veterinary advice if they suspect infection ¹³⁶⁹. Equine veterinarians emphasize the importance of communication between owners and vets ⁹.

The harness racing industry has confirmed that the current outbreak is not linked to their sector, though they also stress the importance of vigilance due to the disease's highly contagious nature ³.