DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland

Equine Influenza Update

Update No. 12, Wednesday 19 September 2007

New Green Zone

From tomorrow, Thursday 20 September, there will be a new Equine Influenza 'Green Zone' in Queensland.

If you live in the Green Zone you can now move and ride your horses - all previous movement restrictions have been lifted. You can also transport your horses within the Green Zone, as long as you complete and carry a waybill, which can be downloaded from the DPI&F website.

The new Green Zone includes Central Queensland, North Queensland, Far North Queensland, North West Queensland and South West Queensland but check the DPI&F website to find out which specific shires are involved.

If you're not in the Green Zone, you're in the Red Zone and tight movement restrictions remain in place.

Anyone who needs to move a horse in the Red Zone needs a permit from the DPI&F. This includes walking and leading your horse off your property. It is illegal to move any horses out of the Red Zone.

Check with DPI&F before you move a horse out of the Green Zone.

Find out more about the zones

Are you in the Red Zone?

Zones boundaries are defined by shire boundaries. Find out if you're in the Red Zone by checking the DPI&F website.

Some shires in the Red Zone that have infected properties will have tighter restrictions than other shires in the zone. Equine Influenza is still spreading in the Red Zone and these tighter restrictions will help respond to this.

As well as adhering to the movement restrictions, there are other things you can do to help stop Equine Influenza spreading.

Horse owners, or people who have regular contact with horses need to shower and change into clean clothing, footwear and a clean hat, before coming into contact with any other horses. All non essential contact with horses should be minimised.

This is really important for farm and stable owners and workers, farriers, equine dentists and chiropractors, horse strappers, vets and other animal carers, trainers and jockeys that might move from one location to another.

Check if you're in the red zone

Infected properties in Queensland

Equine Influenza in still spreading within known infected areas in South East Queensland.

Please stay vigilant.

As of today (Wednesday), nine new infected properties (IP)s have been confirmed in the Warwick, Minden/Rosewood and Tambourine areas, taking the total number of IPs to 178.

Can students spread EI?

We've received lots of queries about whether or not mosquitoes can spread EI (no they can't), but what about kids?

Can they spread it? The answer is yes.

With lots of schools, particularly boarding schools, having horses on, or around their properties, it's important students play their part in stopping the spread.

With students from around Queensland coming home from boarding school this week, there are important things to remember if coming home to a property with horses. DPI&F suggests the following:

• ensure students shower and wash their hair before leaving a place with horses
• ensure boots and shoes are clean
• leave all tack, saddles, bridles and other gear at the school
• wash all clothes as soon as they arrive home
• don't go near any horses for 24 hours.

Community Resource Centres - ask a local

DPI&F is setting up five Equine Influenza Community Resource Centres to help residents of communities where infected properties are located. These are being established this week and are part of ongoing efforts to keep you informed about the latest situation.

Operating 7 days a week, initially from 8am to 6pm, the centres are there to help residents find out the latest information about equine influenza situation in their local community. Each Community Resource Centre is staffed by a veterinarian, a field officer, an administrative officer and two community engagement officers. We're there to help you, so please call or drop in for a visit if you have any questions about the disease.

Where are the Community Resource Centres?

Are you up to date?

If you click on the Update your details link at the top of this newsletter you can check your records and update contact details and the status of your horse heath.

Or if you visit the DPI&F website there is a link that will allow you to either complete a NEW Horse Registration (and or subscribe to this newsletter) or UPDATE your Existing Horse/newsletter registration.

Visit the DPI&F website now

Assistance available to people adversely affected by equine influenza

The Queensland Government is coordinating a multi-agency approach to support people who have been adversely affected by the equine influenza outbreak.

• DPI&F has information about animal welfare and equine influenza. Call the DPI&F information line on 132523 from 8am to 8pm or go to the DPI&F website.
• The Department of State Development has a range of general business and industry support services that may be of assistance. For details contact www.sd.qld.gov.au.
• Lifeline is offering counselling through their 24/7 telephone counselling service on 13 1114. Face-to-face counselling can also be arranged.
• For disease-related information from Queensland Racing please call 3869 9747.

Financial services available are:

• An emergency grant from the Australian Government of up to $1500 to eligible applicants to help pay household expenses such as food, vehicle maintenance, school expenses, electricity, rates and telephone. Unpaid bills must be presented to the relevant administrative body to access the grant. Payment will then be made directly to the supplier of the service. In Queensland these grants are being administered by Queensland Racing. Go to the Queensland Racing website for further details or ring their hotline on 1800 200 057.
• An Australian Government Equine Influenza Assistance Package – see below for details. Queensland Thoroughbred Racing, Queensland Harness Racing and Equestrian Queensland will be helping administer the Commercial Horse Assistance Payment of this package for their respective sectors. Application forms and further information will be available on the Centrelink website or by calling the Equine Influenza Assistance Hotline on Freecall 1800 234 002.

Australian Government Assistance Package

The Australian Government’s Equine Influenza Assistance Package consists of:

• The Equine Workers Hardship Wage Supplement Payment is available to workers in horse-dependent businesses who have lost their job or income, and sole traders whose incomes have effectively ceased (transport operators, riding coaches, farriers etc). The payment is the equivalent of Newstart Allowance and is subject to an income test, but no asset or activity test. Freecall 1800 234 002
• Equine Influenza Business Assistance Grant is a grant of $5000 available for eligible businesses that derive the majority of their income from the commercial horse industry, and have experienced a significant downturn in income. Freecall 1800 234 002
• Commercial Horse Assistance Payment is for eligible primary carers whose racing, harness or professional equestrian competition horses who have been unable to undertake their normal activities and could otherwise have generated an income, if not for the quarantine restrictions in place. Freecall 1800 234 002 or Queensland Racing on 1800 200 057.
• Grants for non-government and not-for-profit equestrian organisations of up to $200 000 will be available for eligible equestrian organisations that have (in addition to the provision of voluntary services by their members or affiliates) incurred expenses directly related to the outbreak of Equine Influenza, and the resulting quarantine restrictions.
  Freecall 1800 234 002

Remember, the hotline for the Australian Government Equine Influenza Package is: Freecall 1800 234 002.