There are currently 1220 infected properties in Queensland. The infected cluster areas have expanded at a slightly slower rate than previously to 2766 sq km with the area west of Ipswich continuing to be an area of expansion. Equine Influenza is still contained to the Red Zone in the State's South East. Vaccination, as part of DPI&F program of containment and eradication is continuing.
Vaccination of horses in the equine influenza vaccination buffer zone and of performance horses commenced in Queensland on 28 September.
Approximately 22,000 vials of vaccine have been dispensed to veterinarians over the last 18 days. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 horses in the buffer zone.
Sixty private and government veterinarians have been allocated 6000 doses of vaccine for the buffer, most of which has already been administered.
All horses that have been vaccinated have also been micro-chipped.
EI has been contained to the SE to date, but moving forward the DPI&F is fine tuning the strategy in two main ways;
(1) more aggressively protecting areas that don't have infection within the RED ZONE through use of strategic vaccination and
(2) looking for ways to free up movements while minimising the risk of further spreading disease so that the impacts on industry are reduced.
However horse owners must realise that the latter will always be a trade-off between disease control and letting people move.
A draft EI containment and eradication framework for the longer-term has been distributed to industry representatives for comment.
Under AUSVETPLAN, Horse Industry Liaison Officers (ILOs) have an important role to play in helping DPI&F in the development of polices and procedures that meet both the needs of the disease eradication strategy, as well immediate/long-term benefit of the horse industries. ILOs also a valuable resource for the communication of information back to horse owners.
Joining DPI&F's equine influenza response team are Ms Nicole Magoffin (Olympic trials Grand Prix Dressage competitor - Gold Coast), Mr David Finch (Show Jumping - Darling Downs), Mrs Karen Herald, (Dressage organiser Caboolture), and Ms Jane Myers, (Show Jumping - Tamborine). They join existing ILO's Robert Cassidy (Queensland Racing) and Andrew Kelly (Queensland Harness Racing).
Ms Carmel Barnfield has also joined the EI response team as communications officer at the Tamborine DPI&F Community Resource Centre. They join a team of dedicated staff and volunteers all doing a great job to help answer the questions of horse owners around the infected clusters within the RED ZONE. Horse owners can contact these ILOs by emailing
or calling 132523. At a recent Nambour horse industry meeting, speaker Nicole Magoffin asked horse owners to observe strict biosecurity procedures. Click on the link (below) to watch and listen to the video clip of the speech.
New group joins co-ordinated program to eradicate EI
A newly-formed working party will work with the Queensland Government to help ensure a coordinated response to the equine influenza outbreak, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
Mr Mulherin said the group representing the Performance and Pleasure Horse Industry would help the Government get key information about biosecurity measures and assistance programs to this group of stakeholders and respond to their concerns.
The committee includes representatives from areas as diverse as pony clubs, horse exporters and saddle retailers.
The Queensland Horse Council is also represented on the working party.
"The formation of this working party is a major step forward in enabling the Government to work with a wide range of industries affected by EI," Mr Mulherin said.
"We were already considering their needs in our response to EI, but this group will ensure that there is effective two-way communication with the people affected so that we are all working in partnership."
Vaccinated horses can still get equine influenza - movement restrictions still apply after vaccination
Vaccinated horses can still get equine influenza and pass on the disease. That is the message from Australia's Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Bob Biddle.
"A vaccinated horse is still capable of being infected, but it will appear healthy, and therefore if it does become infected with the virus, and come into contact with unvaccinated horses or horses that have no immunity then they have a risk of getting the disease," Dr Biddle said.
"Movement restrictions and good biosecurity are the key to stopping this disease spreading," he said.
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.
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