DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland

Equine Influenza Update

Issue No. 7 - Monday 3 September 2007

Prevent the spread

There are things you can do right now to help prevent spread to your property. Check the DPI&F website for more tips, but the most important things are:

• Abide by the standstill. Remember, it is illegal to move any horses from your property until notified;
• Keep you horses at least 50 metres away from other horses;
• Don't handle other people's horses;
• Don't share equipment.

Using your horse float/truck

Vehicles used for transporting horses such as horse floats and trucks are not under the standstill order. However, the following applies:

• If your vehicle (float/truck) has been used for moving horses, it will need to be cleaned and disinfected before using again.
• If your vehicle (float/truck) is on a quarantined property, you can not move it unless it has been cleaned and disinfected under supervision by Biosecurity Queensland.
• If your vehicle (float/truck) has never been used to transport horses (I.e. it's brand new) there is no requirement to clean and disinfect it prior to use.

How to disinfect your vehicle:

• Clean thoroughly to remove all dirt, faecal matter and organic material.
• Disinfect cleaned surfaces with soap or detergent or disinfectant (not a mixture).

Standstill remains

The standstill relates to ALL horses and applies to ALL recreational and commercial horse owners. It is still in place in Queensland.

Even if you have a number of properties listed under the one PIC, horses can't move from the boundaries of the property they are on, and must not cross any road.

Manure and other horse products

Under the standstill horse manure and waste bedding cannot be moved off a property but you can use it on your own property for gardening providing it is not going to come in contact with horses.

It must not be moved on or off properties under the Standstill order. Therefore it cannot be sold on the side of the road. Any bags on the side of the road should be removed from sale and moved back into the property they are on.

Commercial exemptions exist. Check the DPI&F website.

The disposal of manure on quarantined properties will be managed under supervision of Biosecurity Queensland Officers.

The virus can be spread by moving animal matter including semen and other horse products. The standstill also relates to horse products.

Horse services

Horse services such as dentistry, farriery, chiropractic and non-essential vetinary services should only be conducted in emergency situations. This will help minimise the spread of Equine Influenza.

Water restrictions and Equine Influenza

Queenslanders are reminded restrictions do not apply to reasonable actions taken to prevent material risks associated with a hazard to health such as Equine Influenza.

Horses from NSW

Anyone with information about horses bought to Queensland from NSW since 08 August needs to contact DPI&F on 13 25 23.

This is particularly important if horses left NSW between 14 August and 26 August.

Biosecurity Queensland has already undertaken an extensive tracing program but is now double checking to see if any animals have been missed.

Thank-you for reporting suspicious symptoms

Biosecurity Queensland is busy undertaking trace backs and following up reports of horses with suspicious symptoms.

Thank-you to everyone for your vigilance in reporting these suspected cases. Remember, Equine Influenza is a Notifiable Disease in Queensland.