DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland

Equine Influenza Update

Update No. 17, Friday 5th October 2007

Situation report for Friday 5 October, 2007

There are 628 Infected Properties (IP)s in Queensland. Equine Influenza is still contained to South East Queensland. The DPI&F website has a breakdown of the number of infected premises on a per shire basis. Click on the link.

See the breakdown of infected premises by shires

Detailed vaccination buffer zone maps on-line

It is now a legal requirement under the Livestock Identification Regulation (2005) for all owners of one or more horses to be registered with the DPI&F. Register your horse ownership and contact details and the LotOnPlan online.

Once registered online, all horse owners that are in the shaded yellow buffers zone should then phone their local veterinarian to make an appointment for vaccination. Vaccination and veterinary costs in the buffer zone are free of charge. If you do not have a veterinarian, phone the DPI&F on 13 25 23 and a DPI&F vet will be assigned to do the vaccination for you.

The proposed vaccination buffer zone may be adjusted as the vaccination program progresses to take into account areas of low horse density and other natural barriers to spread of EI infection. However, this fine detail is not available at this stage. Therefore some horse owners who appear to be in the vaccination buffer zone shown below may find that they are not included, particularly those on the edges of the proposed vaccination buffer zone. More detailed maps of the buffer zone boundaries are available from the links on the DPI&F website.

View the detailed Vaccination Buffer Zone Map

Horse flu eradication plan is working

Continued cooperation from horse owners and horse industry workers in south east Queensland will help ensure that the equine influenza eradication strategy works.

Biosecurity Queensland's Chief Veterinary Officer Ron Glanville said Queensland's plan, which has been endorsed nationally, has successfully contained the disease within the Red Zone. But continued vigilance is necessary in order to achieve the plan's goal of eradication.

A key component of the science-based eradication strategy is building a 10 km wide buffer zone around areas of high concentration of the disease, and vaccinating horses in the buffer zone.

Read full media release

Vaccinations continue in buffer zone

Queensland will take delivery of an additional 4,800 vials of ProteqFlu equine influenza vaccine on Saturday with another shipment on Monday, which will allow a further expansion of the vaccination program to create a buffer zone in the state's south east.

Since last weekend, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) has been concentrating on establishing a large "buffer zone" around the known areas of horse flu infection in the Red Zone, while the racing industry has been vaccinating its precincts, under authority from the Chief Veterinary Officer and in line with national agreements.

DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer Ron Glanville said Australia had now purchased the entire stock of available ProteqFlu vaccine worldwide.

Read full media release

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.