Vaccination targets Queensland border EI buffer

25 October 2007

More than 280 horses on properties near Woodenbong have been vaccinated for equine influenza as NSW builds a buffer along the Queensland border to stop the spread of infection into NSW.

“Veterinary teams have been vaccinating horses near Woodenbong over the last week or so and they plan to start west of Tenterfield today,” said NSW deputy chief veterinary officer Steve Dunn.

“The Tweed is being left at the moment as we assess the protection provided by the buffer north of the border in that area.”

Mr Dunn said Local Vaccination Centres had been established at Woodenbong and Tenterfield.

“Local knowledge is helping us choose where best to target the vaccination for maximum effect,” he said.

“We are taking into account high traffic crossings to Queensland, including Wallangarra and Woodenbong, natural buffers such as national parks and the level of disease pressure immediately across the border in Queensland.”

Mr Dunn said the gazetted area of the Queensland border vaccination buffer extends from Texas in the west across to the coast, but not all horses in the area will be vaccinated.

“We have gazetted a larger area to give us the flexibility to vaccinate where there is a risk of spread from Queensland,” he said.

According to Mr Dunn the Queensland border buffer was playing a very important role protecting the north coast from infection.

“The north coast, the mid-north coast and much of the northern tablelands is an EI amber zone,” he said.

“This means there is no confirmed disease there but horse movements require a permit from the Rural Lands Protection Board.

“We would like to keep these areas disease free and return them to a green zone as soon as possible.”

Horse owners who are not sure if they are in the buffer area can contact the EI hotline on 1800 675 888 or look on the internet at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza