'Stay alert' the message from Warwick EI Community Resource Centre

Equine Influenza (EI) is progressively being brought under control, but the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) is reminding people there are still important measures which must be taken to ensure this disease is eradicated.

Ron Glanville, Chief Veterinary Officer of DPI&F, recommended anyone who entered or left a property which had a horse on it should decontaminate whether EI was present or not - this slight inconvenience could prove to be the make or break in the fight to control EI.

"If we don't all pull together and stop EI now - if EI becomes endemic in Australia - horses will need annual vaccinations which have been estimated to cost approximately $300 per horse each year," Dr Glanville said.

"People need to realise this will affect all horse owners - it is a very real potential outcome which can be prevented by decontamination procedures being followed at all horse properties," he said.

Locally, there is a community resource centre operating in Warwick at the Harvey Norman Complex, and this has been specifically setup to assist with EI-related inquiries.

Staff are at the centre from 8am to 6pm seven days and are available to provide fact sheets and general information about EI, financial assistance for affected people, registrations of horses, referrals to registration hotlines and to provide decontamination kits. Contact the centre on 07 4661 7239.
A One Stop Shop, setup by the Department of Communities, is operating at the old Slade School campus in Horsman Road, Warwick.

Staff at that centre are available to help with emergency relief one-off payments and other financial assistance which is available. The centre opens from 10:30am to 3.30pm seven days a week.

Both centres have information and assistance hotline phone numbers for emotional support and counselling.

The community is urged to be vigilant in helping to eradicate EI and anyone who needs any information about managing EI, protecting their horses from the virus or who requires support, should contact the local Warwick community centre.

Friday 26 October: There are currently 1715 infected properties (IP's) in Queensland, this is an increase of 75 from 25 October . DPI&F have introduced an inner buffer zone as part of the strategic plan to further contain this disease to South East Queensland. Vaccination, as part of DPI&F program of containment and eradication is continuing.