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Force's horses all on sick leave Force's horses all on sick leave
(about 3 hours later)
Every horse serving with Northumbria Police has been taken out of action because of an outbreak of ringworm. Every horse serving with Northumbria Police has been on sick leave for over a month due to an outbreak of ringworm.
A vet working for Northumbria Police said it was a highly contagious disease but the horses had responded well to antifungal treatment.
Mounted police officers from West Yorkshire were brought in to patrol the Wear-Tyne football derby in Sunderland on Saturday.Mounted police officers from West Yorkshire were brought in to patrol the Wear-Tyne football derby in Sunderland on Saturday.
A vet working for Northumbria Police said it was a highly contagious disease but the horses have been responding well to treatment. A police spokesman said on Thursday all 10 horses were back on the beat.
All 10 horses are expected to be back on the beat within the next few weeks.
'Sneak in''Sneak in'
Lesley Barwise-Munroe, from A1 Northumbria Veterinary Group in Alnwick, who treats the police horses, said: "In the history of Northumbria Police they can not remember this happening.Lesley Barwise-Munroe, from A1 Northumbria Veterinary Group in Alnwick, who treats the police horses, said: "In the history of Northumbria Police they can not remember this happening.
"It is very unfortunate. A new horse came into the yard and even though it was isolated and you take precautions, it can sneak into the group and cause a downturn.""It is very unfortunate. A new horse came into the yard and even though it was isolated and you take precautions, it can sneak into the group and cause a downturn."
"The trouble is it spreads round the horses and you have to break the whole loop so it doesn't move from horse to horse. "The trouble is it spreads round the horses and you have to break the whole loop so it doesn't move from horse to horse."
"The horses are all getting better and we just have to be absolutely certain there are no spores on the skin. She said they used antifungal wash which killed the spores, cleared the lesions and stopped the contamination.
"We use antifungal wash which kills the spores which spread and we are hoping it stops contamination, the lesions heal up, and they feel more comfortable."