Tocal horses contract EI

05 Oct 2007
Horses at the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ CB Alexander Agricultural College, ‘Tocal’, near Maitland have contracted equine influenza (EI).

The historic Hunter property had been free of the disease until late this week but some young horses in a back paddock have returned positive EI tests and are being closely monitored.
Despite the strict EI quarantine measures maintained by staff and students, horses several kilometres west of the main campus have been infected by EI.

Public access to the horses will continue to be restricted and only essential visits to the site are permitted.

Students are currently on spring vacation and while it will be business as usual for the majority of the campus not affected by EI, the college is examining how the situation will impact on the student program for the rest of the year.
‘Tocal’ runs more than 100 horses, including Clydesdales and Australian Stockhorses, and had cancelled all planned horse events when the EI outbreak was first declared.