Equine influenza daily update - 5 October 2007

SITUATION UPDATE
There are currently 3455 Infected Properties (IPs), 361 Dangerous Contact Properties (DCPs) and 397 Suspect Properties (SPs). Encouraging progress is being made towards the eradication of equine influenza through the implementation of the vaccination buffer zones.The number of new IPs over the past three days has not shown a significant decline, but is remaining steady with 140 new IPs on October 2 and 102 new IPs on October 3.

However, there does appear to be a decline since the peak of 206 new IPs on September 24. The LDCC has reported that all DCPs associated with the three horse events identified at the commencement of the EI outbreak in NSW and that were located outside of the "hot areas" of the Red and Purple zones have now been investigated and tested.

Movement Restrictions

The use of Travelling Horse Statements in the green zone are providing a self-permitting process to allow horses to move within a NSW Green zone.

The Travelling Horse Statement for horse owners in the Green Zone can be completed online on the NSW DPI EI website or by contacting the Hotline on 1800 675 888. If you do not have internet access, you can seek assistance from local libraries to complete the form. Note that you need to be able to print the form off to sign it and carry it with you when moving your horse.

Vaccinations

The vaccination of horses in buffer zones continues across the State.
It is anticipated that vet training and registration will start at Berry on 10 October. At Dubbo and Armidale the Department now expects to vaccinate 1000 and 2000 respectively and at Forbes/Parkes and Berry estimates of 1200 have been given. At Gloucester the Local Vaccination Centre (LVC) is operating with up to 6 teams of vets. Each property is visited and all horses examined, swabbed, vaccinated and micro-chipped.

All horse owners are reminded that high standards of biosecurity must be maintained and quarantine and movement restrictions must continue to be observed. If you believe you are in a buffer zone in the Armidale, Dubbo, Berry, Gloucester or Parkes/Forbes areas, and you haven’t yet been contacted about the vaccination occurring in the zone, please ring the Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Community meetings

A number of new Community Information Meeting dates have been set for the Lower Hunter, South Coast and Sydney/Southern Highland regions. For details see: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/influenza/community-meetings