EI detected on property 20 km south east of Grenfell

14 Nov 2007

Rapid deployment of EI vaccination teams to the Grenfell area has led to the detection of EI infection in eight horses on one property at Lirambenda near Grenfell.

NSW chief veterinary officer Bruce Christie said the infected property was 20km south east of Grenfell and 25 km north of Young.

“The property has been placed in quarantine and the area around Lirambenda has been declared a restricted area,” Mr Christie said.

“The EI red zone around Grenfell has been extended to include Lirambenda but there is no extension to the EI amber zone,” he said.
“The township of Young remains in the EI Amber Zone.”

“Property owners in the area 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.”

There are currently six infected properties at Grenfell, one at Lirambenda and one at Crowther.

Veterinary investigations are underway to determine how the virus spread to Lirambenda.

Mr Christie said vaccination teams already deployed around Grenfell and Crowther would also vaccinate in the extended buffer around Lirambenda.

“Horses on the Lirambenda property were tested as part of the vaccination buffer program, leading to the detection of infection on that property,” he said.

Horse owners can contact the NSW EI hotline, 1800 675 888, for more information.