DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland

Equine Influenza Update

Update No. 14, Sunday 23 September 2007

Queensland to get vaccine priority

Queensland will receive a significant percentage of the first 20,000 doses of the Equine Influenza Vaccine to arrive in Australia on Thursday.

The decision was reached after a phone link-up this afternoon of national, state and territory agriculture ministers initiated by Queensland Primary industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin.

"Of the first 20,000 shots to arrive in Australia on Thursday, 1500 will go to Victoria Racing to protect the spring carnival and the remainder will be split 50-50 between Queensland and New South Wales," Mr Mulherin said.

"This is not only a good result for Queensland but the correct result.

"After rumblings yesterday that Victoria, which does not even have any cases of Equine Influenza, might get the majority of the first shipment of the vaccine, I contacted Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran to say that priority should be given to the buffer zones around infected areas in Queensland and NSW.

"I also requested an urgent meeting of state and territory ministers and my Director General called for an urgent meeting of the National Management Group. Both those meetings took place today.

""As a result Queensland will now get half of the remaining 18,500 from the first batch to focus on buffer zones.

"The NMG decision, endorsed by the ministers, also will allow under strict and consistent biosecurity measures the protection of high value horses in restricted areas of NSW and Queensland including thoroughbred and standard bred horses, horses for the Olympic Games and stallions involved in breeding. The question of vaccinating brood mares will be considered by the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases this week," Mr Mulherin said.

It is estimated that there are about 5000 horses in the Queensland buffer zones around the known clusters of infection.

A further 30,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive on Thursday week.

Mr McGauran said another 100,000 doses would be order ed as soon as possible, the initial portion of which would be used for booster shots.

"We still remain confident that the disease can be controlled and eradicated and the strategic use of the vaccines will play a vital role," Mr Mulherin said.

"The priority has to be the buffer zones and treating the infected areas in Queensland and NSW, although I acknowledge that it is important that the Victorian racing is protected as it is a major asset of the national industry."

There are currently 243 infected premises in Queensland, restricted to Warwick, Brisbane's western suburbs, Minden/Rosewood, Goondiwindi, Tamborine and Millmerran.

Queensland is currently under a two zone system.

In the Red Zone, south east Queensland and the Darling Downs, which contains the infected properties, strict conditions still apply.

In the Green Zone, which includes central Queensland, north Queensland, far north Queensland, north west Queensland and south west Queensland, there are no restrictions on walking or riding horses. Anyone wanting to transport their horse must complete a waybill which can be downloaded from the DPI&F site.

Read the full media release

Equine Influenza Community Resource Centres

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 (17 - 21 September 2007).

The new community resource centres can be found in:

Brookfield
Goondiwindi
Rosewood - Minden Rosewood
Tamborine / Canungra
Warwick

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. These people are there to help you, so please call or drop in for a visit if you have any questions about the disease.

Even though the local resource centres will be in place, Queensland Government staff will continue to be out and about in your local area.

Contact details for centres

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While every care has been taken in preparing this eNewsletter, the State of Queensland accepts no responsibility for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement or advice, expressed or implied, contained in this eNewsletter.