DPI&F Biosecurity Queensland

Equine Influenza Update

Update No. 25, Friday 23rd November 2007

Situation report for Friday 23rd November, 2007

Infected Premises
There are 2152 Infected Properties (IPs) in Queensland. However, there is a continuing reduction in IPs due to reclassification to the status of R (Resolved). A property's R status means that its horses are no longer shedding the virus. This is a critical time of the disease emergency and all horse owners and horse health care providers are must maintain decontamination and other biosecurity procedures and remain vigilant to allow the disease to burn itself out.

Reporting sick horses
It is still a legal requirement to notify the DPI&F on 13 25 23 of any horses that show clinical sign consistent with EI.

Horse property registration
It is now a mandatory legal requirement under the Stock Identification Regulation 2005 for all horse properties to be registered with the DPI&F. A horse property must be registered prior to the submission of any application for for vaccination or for a permit to move a horse.

See the breakdown of infected premises by shires

Equine Influenza - Communiqué from Qld Chief Veterinary Officer (Dr Ron Glanville)

I am pleased to report that the latest trend analysis from the EI epidemic is looking promising - and the downward/low trend of IPs continues as presented in my reports of the previous few weeks. The epidemic curve shown in the full report linked from this newsletter, shows the disease epidemic peaked in early October and has been declining ever since. Note that this graph in the report is the 'overall epidemic curve' for Queensland, and that some 'individual areas' will show a different pattern.

Also in this full report, is information on potential new zonings and discussion on potential easing of movement restrictions as we progress towards the latter part of this year and the into the new year with the expected continued reduction in disease spread and increased levels of vaccination working in our favour.

As the EI repsonse is a national response that is being controlled by the National Management Group (NMG), it is pleasing that the NMG has granted an extension of the funding arrangements. This is described in my full report.

Read the full report

Grants can total up to $15,000 - now available

If you are an equine business owner you may be eligible for an Australian Government grant for $5000. This is called the Equine Influenza Business Assistance Grant. Many people applied for this grant within the first few weeks of the outbreak and they can now (from 19th Nov) apply for it again if still eligible. This grant is accessed through centrelink www.centrelink.gov.au or freecall 1800 234 002. The form asks if your business expenses have gone up since the outbreak of EI.

For many equine businesses it is not that their expenses have gone up but that there income has gone down dramatically or ceased altogether. Therefore their expenses have gone up when expressed as a percentage of incomings/outgoings. Make sure you make this clear when you fill in the forms.

Another subsidy that is available for Equine businesses is called the Queensland Commercial Horse Small Business Emergency Assistance scheme which offers up to $5000. This is courtesy of QRAA Queensland Government. Go to www.qraa.qld.gov.au or freecall 1800 623 946. This subsidy is a non-repayable interest subsidy and contributes towards interest payments on new or exciting commercial loans.

Many people that we have come across in our travels have thought that they are both the same grant when in fact they are not.

In fact some business who applied for the Australian Government grant before 19th, are now able to apply for it again and are eligible for the Queensland government grant. This is a possible total of $15,000.

For more information about these and other financial assistance go to the DPI&F website financial assistance page.

Horse Industry Liaison Officers (ILOs)

Contact the ILOs

Sick of 'Bad News' on EI in the media? Well read the factual 'Good News' that the papers and TV/radio media do not run!

Aren't we all sick of hearing 'Bad News' stories about EI. It's now time after 12 weeks into the outbreak for some 'Good News'.

Once virus on the infected properties travels its course, the virus burns out, and the DPI&F is now resolving many properties within the Red Zone.

Properties that have horses on them that have not shown clinical signs for 30 days can have their properties removed form the Infected Properties (IP) list. These horses having built up a natural immunity, stronger than those that are vaccinated.

Queensland has rolled out over 70000 vaccine to horses.

This figure includes the inner and outer buffer zones which predominately contain working, pleasure and performance Horses.

This also puts Queensland some 30 000 ahead of EI vaccination program in New South Wales.

With good Biosecurity horse owners have been able to contain the virus to their properties.

This is the number 1 defence against EI that we should all adopt!

Two properties, one on the southside and one of the northside of Brisbane have successfully contained the outbreak in their area to their properties.

While sceptics may say the weather conditions are now in our favour, it still shows that good biosecurity measures work and are needed to be effective with the fight against EI.

The lateral spread of the disease is slowing and epidemic curve for both NSW and Queensland are showing that we are really on top of this disease - so lets all see this through to the total eradication and show the world that Queensland and Australia can demonstrate without a doubt a proof-of-freedom from EI in the coming years.

This is evident by the smaller number of Infected Properties reported to DPI&F. We have gone from 100 to 20 to less than 10 new IPs per day over recent weeks.

The Buffer Zones are working.

The disease has been contained within the Red Zone, despite some infection coming close to the Green Zone. It's a thin Yellow Line that is working!

BUT

The battle isn't over.

We still need to maintain excellent biosecurity. We still need to tell the DPI&F where our horses are by registering on-line or calling 13 25 23. We still need to report EI Infections. We still need to stop any movement of horses. And we still need to advise our local vet and/or the DPI&F if we are in any of the new buffer zones or suppression zones.

If we do these things there will be more 'Good News' stories ahead.

Horse Industry Liaison Officers (ILOs)

Contact the ILOs

Report from horse industry liaison officers (ILOs)

The Horse Industry Liaison Officers (ILOs) that are working as industry extension and communications officers to help with horse industry eradicate equine influenza.

To date, the ILOs achievements are;

• Changed the style of information presentation so that it is more 'horse-friendly'.
• Arranged meetings throughout the Red and Green zones to help communicate between horse owners, industry and government
• Been advisor to the government about policy direction and information presentation in a horse-owner-friendly manner.
• Advised the DPI&F about topics such as horse welfare, breeding seasons, and general horse talk.
• Created an awareness of issues that had not previously been explored by government.
• Help industry people understand the science of the eradication process.
• Been able to communicate with all levels of the horse industry in a manner that is easily understood.
• Developed self-assessment checklists that people can display on the fence of their properties, in shop windows of saddlery and produce stores, and in the vehicles of service providers like farriers and dentists. These checklists enable people to show that they are carrying out correct bio-security procedures which in turn gives their customers confidence with their service.
• Highlighted concerns about the financial constraints that this outbreak is having on all levels within the horse industry.
• Become an identifiable face that the horse industry can use as a gateway to information and assistance.
• Been an encouragement to those that are suffering most and helped them expore financial assistance options.
• Given talks to school children to help them understand why they can't pat the local pony/horse
• Provided printed material to schools to help spread the word in a format children enjoy
• Helped develop a level of trust within the boarder general horse industry, in the scientifically-based approach to disease containment and eradication that the DPI&F has adopted in line with the national agreed approach under AUSVETPLAN and the cost-sharing deed signed by the horse industries.

SPREAD THE WORD - NOT THE DISEASE!

Horse Industry Liaison Officers

Contacts details for the ILOs

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.