Vet says quicker horse flu spread may end outbreak sooner.

A New South Wales Hunter region vet says an expansion of the purple zone to include all of the Hunter will see the equine influenza virus spread more quickly through the region.

The State Government has announced changes to the colour-coded zoning system, which will free up horse movement for thousands of owners and breeders.

The purple zone has been expanded to now include Maitland in the Hunter region, Camden and Tamworth.

Maitland district vet Digby Raywood says encouraging the spread of the flu might bring an end to the outbreak sooner.
"That's one of the key things," he said.

"We and the experts have been encouraging that because we haven't been able to stop the virus.

"They are saying if you have a quicker spread of the virus you have a less chance of a continuation of the virus.

"Certainly it will spread quicker and hopefully have a chance to burn out quicker, which is what we've been asking for for ages."