Crowther horses come down with flu

11 Nov 2007

A property at Crowther south east of Grenfell in the Central West has been quarantined following positive test results from one horse for equine influenza (EI).

A restricted area has been declared around the infected property and the status of the area has been changed from an amber to a red zone.

NSW deputy chief veterinary officer, Steve Dunn, said part of the Green Zone near Booroowa and Binalong had been changed to amber to maintain an adequate buffer between the infected property and the green zone.

“Horse owners in the area which has changed from green to amber will no longer be able to move their horse with only a Travelling Horse Statement,” Mr Dunn said.

“They will need a permit from the Rural Lands Protection Board to move only within the Amber area.

“Property owners around Crowther, Booroowa or Binalong who may be unsure which zone they are in can call the EI hotline on 1800 675 888 or go to the website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza.

NSW Department of Primary Industries surveillance teams are tracing movements to identify any other infected horses in the area. There are currently six infected properties in the Grenfell and Crowther cluster.
NSW DPI deployed vaccination teams yesterday morning to begin creating a vaccination buffer to stop the disease spreading south.

“We are mounting a swift response to this cluster of infection,” said Mr Dunn.

Horse owners in the vaccination buffer around Grenfell and Crowther can call the vaccination centre on 6850 2929 or they can contact the NSW EI hotline, 1800 675 888, for more information.