First witnesses front horse flu inquiry

Tuesday, 13/11/2007

An inquiry into the horse flu outbreak has heard the virus spread around the world as a result of horses being transported for breeding.

The first day of witness testimony has been held in Sydney.

Senior micro-biologist, Dr James Gilkerson from Melbourne University, told the inquiry the equine influenza virus turned up in Miama, Florida, 44 years ago, after infected horses were imported from South America.

Dr Gilkerson said the virus then moved rapidly across the United States, was transferred to Europe, and appeared in the UK in 1976 with the increasing air transport of horses for breeding.

He said the strain responsible for the current outbreak in Australia is most closely related to the US-Wisconsin 2003 strain.

Dr Gilkerson also described the highly infectious nature of the virus, saying with the exception of Natal province, every horse in South Africa was infected within three days in that country's 1986 outbreak.

The hearing continues.