Wellington horses to get EI jab

07 Oct 2007
Local horses are to be vaccinated and an equine influenza (EI) buffer zone established at Wellington to contain a suspected outbreak of EI after horses on a property showed clinical signs of the disease.

NSW DPI Chief veterinary officer Bruce Christie said the clinical signs were consistent with EI, and test results were expected tomorrow (October 6).

“Since the disease is highly contagious, we need to attempt to contain it at an early stage,” Mr Christie said.

“It’s a pre-emptive move intended to stop gradual spread from property to property and beyond.

“Only selected high-risk horses in a 15 km zone around Wellington are to be given the vaccine to buffer against spread by reducing the amount of virus excreted from horses if they become infected.”

Selected horses will be vaccinated and micro-chipped by a veterinarian at no cost. Groups of horses have higher priority over isolated, single horses.

Mr Christie said it was important to note that this vaccine is NOT the silver bullet, or the answer to all the problems thrown up by the EI outbreak.

The horse flu vaccine will be kept under security at a Local Vaccination Centre and dispensed to the vaccination team from today.

Horse owners within 15 km of the centre of Wellington should contact the Wellington EI vaccination centre on 6845 4438 or 0428 710 002, or the disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
Mr Christie said the spread of equine influenza at Wellington again highlighted the importance of strict bio-security.