Equine Update: 26th June 2008

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries The Honourable Tim Mulherin  26/06/2008

Queensland only days from being declared EI free

Queensland will be officially declared free of the crippling equine influenza disease on Monday, June 30 - moving Australia one step closer to becoming one of the very few countries in the world to achieve eradication.

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said from next Monday, Queensland will be an all-white zone. All horses in Queensland will be able to move freely throughout the state without the need for a waybill.

Mr Mulherin today said measures required to eradicate equine influenza had placed a heavy burden on horse owners and industry but thanks to the co-operation and hard work from the equine industry, the community and the Queensland Government, Queensland could now look forward to an EI-free future.

"The last year has been painful but the effort is worth it," Minister Mulherin said.

"Not only have we eradicated EI but we have assisted in positioning Queensland's horse industry for an even more productive future as a unified group with an increased awareness of the importance of biosecurity.''

DPI&F will continue to monitor for signs of the disease until the end of December, 2008, in order to satisfy the requirements for international recognition for proof of freedom.

"Provided there are no further cases detected we should achieve international recognition of EI freedom on Christmas Day, 2008, one year after the last horses were known to be infected," Mr Mulherin said.

The green zone', which includes an area from Millmerran and Stanthorpe in the west, along the New South Wales border to Coolangatta in the South, up to the Sunshine Coast in the North, will become white with the remainder of the state, returning movement restrictions to the way they were before the disease outbreak.

There will be a continued requirement for Queensland horse events to be registered with DPI&F as this will assist with the monitoring requirement for proof of freedom.

To register a horse event, visit the DPI&F website www.dpi.qld.gov.au.

For further information regarding these changes visit the DPI&F website or call the Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.

Media: 3239 6530

Equine Update: 1st Feb 2008

The advent of the EI problem in Australia may have lost its impact in the media but many vets have kept up the extensive vaccination program which has been widely successful. The disease is well on its way to being eradicated.

In Queensland the last known case of equine influenza commenced clinical signs on 25 December 2007. Careful surveillance is also being carried out in other areas to identify if there are unreported cases still occurring. In the meantime biosecurity measures must be maintained to avoid spread if there were to be an undiagnosed focus of infection.

Recently horse events are starting to happen and many people are starting to get their horses back in work. As many of the horses have had an extended spell they are generally out of condition and will need a longer program to get them fit again. It is in this period they are usually more susceptible to injury. For full information visit the DPI web site.

 

Equine Update: 31st Oct 2007

All horse movement in south East Queensland is still restricted however some good progress has been made with many horses having been vaccinated.

A substantial amount of vaccine has now been allocated for horses within the performance and pleasure horse sector. The EI virus has proven to be very contagious and very easily spread so continued care and vigilance is still necessary.

Influenza viruses do not survive well in the environment when conditions of high temperatures and high humidity occur so with the onset of the Queensland summer and the continued aggressive vaccination program there should be some better news for horses on the horizon.

Important Information

Horse Flu or Equine Influenza (EI) is caused by a virus that has recently been introduced into Australia. Australia and New Zealand were previously free of this disease. EI is a highly contagious viral disease of all equine species (including horses, ponies, donkeys, mules). Horses that become infected will show signs of the disease but will recover completely within a few weeks. Due to the highly contagious nature of the disease all horse movement in the restricted zone in Queensland is banned.

At this point there is no EI vaccine available for the general vaccination of horses. Vaccination of horses is restricted to the buffer zones, race horses and some other special situations. For full information visit the DPI web site.

The vaccine is not available from regular veterinary practices.

The severity of symptoms may vary but nearly all horses infected develop a fever (high temperature) and have a deep dry cough and show a watery nasal discharge that may become thick. Generally they may go off their feed, appear dull and listless and can also have muscle pain.

The virus is highly contagious and can survive on skin, clothes and surfaces of contaminated equipment such as horse floats, grooming gear and tack. People who are in close contact with horses can be easily responsible for transmission of the disease. The virus is susceptible to soaps, detergents and Dettol.

It is important to note that under Queensland legislation, if you suspect the presence of this disease in your horses, you must report it. Please contact your local Biosecurity Queensland vet or inspector, or call DPI&F on 13 25 23 (local call). The DPI also have a generic fact sheet available online .

If you have any queries in relation to this and your horses please contact Animal Options on Phone (07) 5546 6756. We would be pleased to talk with you about this.

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