DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland

Equine Influenza Update

Update No. 22, Wednesday 31st October 2007

Situation report for Wednesday 31 October, 2007

There are currently 1896 infected properties in Queensland. The infected cluster areas have expanded at a slightly slower rate than previously reported. This is an increase of 61 since 27/10/07.

This trend of a slowing of the infection rate has been experienced during the last two weeks, however DPI&F is still optimistically cautious as it could be an aberration due to under-reporting. All new cases of sick horses should be still be reported to the DPI&F on 13 25 23 or your local vet.

Vaccination, as part of DPI&F program of containment and eradication is continuing and has expanded with the availability of more vaccine to include strategic inner buffer zones, containment vaccination as well as increased scope for vaccination of horses within the performance and pleasure horse sector (see items below).

See the breakdown of infected premises by shires

Equine Influenza Update from the Qld Chief Veterinary Officer

Eradication plan in place

We are part of the national equine influenza eradication program, but the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) has a very specific strategy in place to contain the disease within Queensland, and get horse industry and events back on track. This strategy is based on:

• Movement controls & biosecurity
• Vaccination buffer zones
• Strategic vaccination (infection suppression)
• Surveillance
• Infected premises controls
• Information & education

If all horse owners remain vigilant and with the more aggressive use of vaccination, we are aiming to have the epidemic largely under control by Christmas. It's a brave call, but I believe this goal is achievable if everyone plays their part. Horse owners and those in contact with horses such as farriers, vets, strappers and trainers must continue to follow effective biosecurity and decontamination measures.

Biosecurity Queensland, in DPI&F, is already working on protocols to allow movements to recommence after Christmas so industry can start to get back on its feet - if all goes to plan.

The most significant recent development in the eradication program is the availability of reasonable supplies of vaccine. This means Queensland can take a more aggressive approach to the eradication of EI through:

• Establishment of vaccination buffer zones - Two vaccination buffer zones are being put in place - one around the Red zone and an inner buffer to further isolate areas of the red zone that do not have infection. See the DPI&F website for maps and more details..
• Strategic vaccination - With more vaccine now available in Australia, DPI&F can commence strategic vaccination aimed at stopping any spread out from existing clusters or new clusters. We have commenced vaccination in the northern part of the Samford Valley and will work back towards the new cluster to limit its spread. We will also be looking for significant populations of non-infected horses near existing clusters to protect them and limit further spread.
• Suppression vaccination - Queensland's non racing sector has been allocated additional vaccine sufficient for 26,000 horses. In line with the current process for allocation of vaccines in Queensland, horse owners in the Red Zone will still need to meet specific criteria, developed by the industry group in line with their top priorities, to be considered for the new vaccine allocation. As well as helping industry to get back on track, it will also mean infection should be suppressed in and around the existing clusters.

I urge all horse owners and horse carers who are contributing in whatever way to this emergency response to 'hang in there' knowing that your good efforts are having a positive impact.

Ongoing biosecurity is the key to stopping EI from entering new areas and everyone, whether they have equine influenza in their area or not, needs to remain vigilant. Thank you for your efforts.

Report from horse industry liaison officers (ILOs)

Over the last week, we (Horse Industry Liaison Officers or ILOs) have begun presenting EI information sessions at small informal meetings in targeted areas within the red zone.

Local saddlery and feed merchants have hosted these meetings and we thank them for their support.

Horse owners have had the opportunity to ask questions and take home a wide-range of printed information. Importantly, the information flow has been two-directional. The ILOs have then been able to take issues and concerns back to the DPI&F and help find answers through the relevant channels. We have also been able to raise issues on policies that will help in current and future decision making.

The feedback from these meetings has been positive and many productive networks formed between horse owners attending, horse industry service businesses and the DPI&F staff. Many horse owners say they are leaving the meetings with a better understanding of EI and support current plans to eradicate EI.

We will continue to conduct these meetings and hope to broaden the EI communication at the grass-roots level.

The thrust of our talks at these meetings has been that it is important that all horse owners understand the consequences of allowing EI to become endemic in Queensland. These are;

• Horses will need to be vaccinated every year at a substantial cost. The cost may be as much as $200 per year per horse.
• Horses will have to be microchipped and/or registered at a cost.
• There will be a cost to managing and administering the compulsory vaccination of competition horses which the horse industry will have to pay for.
• Not all people will vaccinate their horses and EI virus will continue to cause disease in these unprotected horses.
• Vaccinated horses can still contract EI although usually in a milder form and can therefore still spread the disease.
• Horses infected with EI must be rested. They will not be able to train or compete. Secondary infection may permanently affect their performance.
• The virus may adapt and change over time to one that causes more serious disease and more fatalities.

Therefore as responsible horse owners we all must do everything we can to help eradicate EI. Biosecurity (including decontamination) is still the single most important aspect that each and every horse owner must do now to bet EI. We all need to help with the communication of the facts and play our part to get the message across to those in your horse clubs or to those who have horses in your neighbourhood who are not putting effective biosecurity in place.

You can play your part in the fight against EI by;

• increasing information between horse owners
• implementing biosecurity now and promoting biosecurity within your own community

Remember: Spread the Word - Not the Disease!

Karen Herald, Jane Myers, David Finch and Nicole Magoffin
(Horse Industry Liaison Officers)

Watch the video of Nicole Magoffin's speech

26,000 horses to be vaccinated in Queensland's non-racing sector

Queensland's non racing sector has been allocated additional vaccine sufficient for 26,000 horses, as part of the latest phase to eradicate equine influenza and get local businesses and horse events back on track.

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) spent yesterday consulting with the newly formed Performance and Pleasure Horse Industry - a group set up two weeks ago specifically to tackle issues arising from the exotic disease outbreak - with final details about the significant roll out of additional vaccine still to be finalised.

In line with the current process for allocation of vaccines in Queensland, horse owners in the Red Zone will still need to meet specific criteria, developed by the industry group in line with their top priorities, to be considered for the new vaccine allocation.

DPI&F Chief Veterinary Officer Ron Glanville has hailed the national decision to allocate the new vaccines an important step in helping the performance and pleasure horse industry to recover. It will also greatly assist in bringing this epidemic under control.

"Clearly, the decision to allocate vaccines for 26,000 horses is encouraging news for the 1000s of Queensland businesses, local associations and clubs who have been affected by Equine Influenza, but importantly, it also signals an end is in sight," Dr Glanville said.

Read the full media release

Detailed maps live on web for new inner buffer zones

Last week DPI&F announced the commencement of vaccination in the new Sunshine Coast inner buffer zone to help further contain equine influenza in South East Queensland.

The Southern Sunshine Coast inner buffer will run north-west from Wild Horse Mountain forestry tower and further inner buffer zones will run from Inglewood in the west, through Crows Nest and Esk districts and link to the Sunshine coast inner buffer.

Veterinary teams will be vaccinating all horses within a 10km wide strip to reduce the chance of infection through the areas with low horse populations. Detailed maps are now available on the DPI&F website.

View the new detailed maps of the inner buffer zones

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.