Qld DPI Report
Situation report for Wednesday 10 October, 2007
There are 928 infected properties (IP's) in Queensland. Whilst the IP number is high, the rate of increase is considered moderate.
Easing of restrictions may be possible by Christmas
The Queensland Government hopes to allow free movement of horses within Queensland’s red zone by Christmas if its strategy to contain equine influenza to the south-east remains on track. Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said that the Christmas goal was only achievable if all Queenslanders involved in the equine industry played their part in ensuring all quarantine safeguards were adopted and upheld.
He said with a horse standstill in place, the greatest threat to equine influenza spreading beyond the red zone was through human contact with horses and human failure to properly decontaminate. “Through the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland is creating a buffer zone in the south east around the main area of infection,’’ Mr Mulherin said. “We are vaccinating all horses in the buffer zone and expect it to be fully effective from mid to late December after the administration of the second dose. “During this time, we will be trying to protect as much as possible high value horses and large horse populations within the red zone.
We will also look to contain the spread of the disease within existing clusters in the red zone by strategic vaccination of inner buffers,” Mr Mulherin said. He said DPI&F expected that once the outer buffers were in place, then Queensland’s horse industry could get back to work with the freeing up movements in the red zone. “At this point, all things going to plan, we are looking at freeing up movements by Christmas this year. “But to achieve this it is important to keep movement restrictions in place and maintain high biosecurity measures to ensure the buffers and the other vaccination program is not compromised.
“I have asked my Department to look at ways to increase the security and surveillance of the border between the red and green zones,” Mr Mulherin said. While movement restrictions would be loosened in the red zone at Christmas, there will continue to be strict controls between the red to green zones.
New Steering Committee established to help the sport and recreation horse industry.
A new Steering Committee has been established by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) to help the sport and recreation horse industry get back on its feet.
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The steering committee, which met today includes representatives from the Horse Industry Council (Queensland), Equestrian Queensland, Pony Club Association, Sport and Recreation Queensland, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Communities, and Tourism, Regional Development.
“The sports horse industry is very valuable to Queensland – not only economically through export revenue and job creation but also through their contribution to the Queensland lifestyle,” Mr Mulherin said.
“But with so many diverse groups, everyone needs to come together with the common goal of how to reduce the spread of the disease and get horse events back up and running.
Mr Mulherin said as well as an opportunity to bring horse sport industry groups under the one banner, the Steering Committee would develop roll out an Equine Influenza economic recovery plan.
“When movement restrictions are lifted, we need to have a plan that sets how to get the industry can get back up and running and have a viable future.
“One person involved in the industry who has experienced the impact of equine influenza first hand is Natalie Nichols.
“A horse lover with a long background in the industry, Ms Nichols was locked down with her horses at Morgan Park and worked as the local Crisis Manager during the six-week confinement.
“It’s this hands on experience, and invaluable knowledge and passion for the horse industry that will see this plan work, and I have no doubt that Ms Nichols, together with her industry colleagues, will provide the insights needed to ensure that the industry can recover from this terrible outbreak.”
There are 928 infected properties (IP's) in Queensland. Whilst the IP number is high, the rate of increase is considered moderate.
Easing of restrictions may be possible by Christmas
The Queensland Government hopes to allow free movement of horses within Queensland’s red zone by Christmas if its strategy to contain equine influenza to the south-east remains on track. Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said that the Christmas goal was only achievable if all Queenslanders involved in the equine industry played their part in ensuring all quarantine safeguards were adopted and upheld.
He said with a horse standstill in place, the greatest threat to equine influenza spreading beyond the red zone was through human contact with horses and human failure to properly decontaminate. “Through the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Biosecurity Queensland is creating a buffer zone in the south east around the main area of infection,’’ Mr Mulherin said. “We are vaccinating all horses in the buffer zone and expect it to be fully effective from mid to late December after the administration of the second dose. “During this time, we will be trying to protect as much as possible high value horses and large horse populations within the red zone.
We will also look to contain the spread of the disease within existing clusters in the red zone by strategic vaccination of inner buffers,” Mr Mulherin said. He said DPI&F expected that once the outer buffers were in place, then Queensland’s horse industry could get back to work with the freeing up movements in the red zone. “At this point, all things going to plan, we are looking at freeing up movements by Christmas this year. “But to achieve this it is important to keep movement restrictions in place and maintain high biosecurity measures to ensure the buffers and the other vaccination program is not compromised.
“I have asked my Department to look at ways to increase the security and surveillance of the border between the red and green zones,” Mr Mulherin said. While movement restrictions would be loosened in the red zone at Christmas, there will continue to be strict controls between the red to green zones.
New Steering Committee established to help the sport and recreation horse industry.
A new Steering Committee has been established by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) to help the sport and recreation horse industry get back on its feet.
>
The steering committee, which met today includes representatives from the Horse Industry Council (Queensland), Equestrian Queensland, Pony Club Association, Sport and Recreation Queensland, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Communities, and Tourism, Regional Development.
“The sports horse industry is very valuable to Queensland – not only economically through export revenue and job creation but also through their contribution to the Queensland lifestyle,” Mr Mulherin said.
“But with so many diverse groups, everyone needs to come together with the common goal of how to reduce the spread of the disease and get horse events back up and running.
Mr Mulherin said as well as an opportunity to bring horse sport industry groups under the one banner, the Steering Committee would develop roll out an Equine Influenza economic recovery plan.
“When movement restrictions are lifted, we need to have a plan that sets how to get the industry can get back up and running and have a viable future.
“One person involved in the industry who has experienced the impact of equine influenza first hand is Natalie Nichols.
“A horse lover with a long background in the industry, Ms Nichols was locked down with her horses at Morgan Park and worked as the local Crisis Manager during the six-week confinement.
“It’s this hands on experience, and invaluable knowledge and passion for the horse industry that will see this plan work, and I have no doubt that Ms Nichols, together with her industry colleagues, will provide the insights needed to ensure that the industry can recover from this terrible outbreak.”
posted by Horse Deals at
8:40 am
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