Turkey kills horses because of disease

Authorities on the Turkish island of Büyükada have killed 81 horses following an outbreak of a deadly glandular disease.

The disease also affects donkeys and mules, and a quarantine has been put in place to prevent travel to and from the island to prevent the spread of the disease, the AP reports.

The mayor of the island, located near Istanbul, said that there are no reports of infections among people.

Horses on the island are used to pull carts, as cars and vehicles are prohibited, reports KosovaPress.

Alternatively, Turkey is considering a ban on horse-drawn carriages amid reports that dozens of horses have died as a result of poor treatment by owners.

Büyükada is one of nine small islands called the Princess Islands, and is very popular with tourists.