DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland

Equine Influenza Update

Update No. 13, Saturday 22 September 2007

Mulherin calls for vaccination of Queensland performance horses

Queensland is urging the Australian Government to escalate the equine influenza vaccination program to provide sufficient vaccine for horses in buffer zones around infected areas and for the Queensland performance horse industry.

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today he was concerned by the news this morning confirming equine influenza at the Warwick Farm thoroughbred stables in New South Wales.

Mr Mulherin today wrote to Federal Minister for Agriculture, Peter McGauran pointing out that, in contrast to NSW, there has been no equine influenza confirmed in the Queensland thoroughbred racing industry and "it is vitally important that this remains the case."

"At this point in Queensland, Equine Influenza has been largely confined to five clusters in Warwick, Rosewood-Minden, Tamborine, the western suburbs of Brisbane and Goondiwindi," Mr Mulherin said.

"An aggressive vaccination policy is now needed to contain the further spread of disease in the known clusters and to prevent its spread into the racing industry, which would be devastating to the Queensland industry coming off the back of losses already incurred since the Equine Influenza outbreak a month ago."

Read the full media release

Updated fact sheet - 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. An updated fact sheet is available on the DPI&F Equine Influenza website.

Read the new fact sheet

Procedures for horse health care workers

Horse health care workers including farriers, dentists, veterinarians, chiropractors, and strappers are permitted to work on healthy horses as well as those infected with equine influenza, as long as they follow strict decontamination procedures.

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Ron Glanville said only essential work should be undertaken on infected equine influenza properties to reduce the risk of spreading the virus," he said.

"DPI&F policy is that animal welfare concerns for sick animals must be met, but each person visiting a horse to administer emergency care must comply with stringent biosecurity and decontamination requirements.

"However, all non-emergency movement of people between horses should be avoided.

"If people must move between horses, they must undertake good hygiene both upon entry to a new premise that has horses, and also immediately upon leaving that property."

Link to procedures for horse health care workers
Read the full media release

Are you up to date?

On 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

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