Buffer Zone in Qld.

I'm finding it difficult to understand why the buffer zone in SE Q'ld is approx 100 km away from the nearest infected property (to the north anyway). I would have thought that in order to minimize spread in order to contain and eradicate EI it would have been more efficient to quickly create a buffer zone closer to the original outbreaks.

As it stands now there are thousands of still healthy horses in the red zone who will not be innoculated and instead are being left to catch this disease as it continues to spread outward. Just check out the infected properties list on the dpi site (www.dpi.qld.gov.au) to see the daily increase in infected properties and, in the last week, 3 new shires.

It particularly irks me to then read how the disease is being contained to the red zone. Cold comfort for those of us who won't be getting vaccine for our horses as we wait for "when, not if," our horses get sick.

Oh and I'm PARTICULARLY thrilled to hear on this evening's news that racing will be resuming shortly - wonder when those of us in the recreational horse industry will get to compete again?

Fran.