DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland

Equine Influenza Update

Update No. 18, Monday 8th October 2007

Situation report for Monday 8 October, 2007

There are 799 infected properties in Queensland. Infected Clusters now cover 1603 sq km of south east Queensland. The majority of the increase remains as lateral extensions to known infected areas.

See the breakdown of infected premises by shires

Thank-you for horse registrations

Thank-you to every one who has registered their horses on the DPI&F website.

Last Friday a mail out of passwords or PINs was undertaken. This was necessary to provide those who had previously registered - but had not recorded a password, to access their registration details.

Some people have accidentally registered their horses twice. Once you have registered once please use the UPDATE link for any subsequent modifications to your registration contact details or LotOnPlan data.

If you have more than one LotOnPlan, simple add them to the LotOnPlan field and separate each with a semicolon ;

Registration of horses is vital for disease control, disease planning and for communication direct to all horse owners. Please encourage all horse owners to register.

NEW horse registration or UPDATE existing Registration

Australian Vet Association - EI not out of control in Queensland

The President of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Dr Diane Sheehan says the AVA fully supports the current strategy used by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to contain equine influenza.

"The AVA fully supports the Queensland DPI in following AUSVETPLAN, which is the co-ordinated national response to minimising the harm caused by the virus. AVA has been working closely with the Queensland DPI and we have every confidence that they are providing accurate and timely information and following the correct protocols in accordance with AUSVETPLAN," said Dr Sheehan.

"Vaccination was never going to be a cure-all for this crisis, and it is entirely understandable that some members of the public are anxious about it. However, we are confident that the strategies currently being followed are consistent with the best possible advice available from experts.

"There is still much to be done, and I would encourage members of the public to have faith in Queensland authorities who are doing their best to bring this crisis to a close.

"The AVA's hard working members have been at the front line of this crisis for weeks now, and they will continue to work closely with the authorities to assist in any way possible."

Read full media release

Additional EI vaccine batch distributed

An additional batch of equine influenza vaccine arrived in Brisbane Saturday night and was distributed on Sunday.

Further supplies will arrive this week.

Biosecurity Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer Ron Glanville said the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries put in an urgent request for the additional batch when a problem was discovered with a shipment of 4,800 vials that arrived from Sydney by private contractor on Saturday morning.

One of two temperature sensors indicated the shipment had been below two degrees. As a live vaccine, they must be maintained at between two and six degrees. The drop in temperature could reduce or even nullify the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Dr Glanville said it was possible that the sensor had malfunctioned. While this was being investigated, Dr Glanville said Biosecurity Queensland was not prepared to distribute a vaccine in which they did not have complete confidence.

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.