Horse flu: Transport breach being investigated

Thursday, 22 November 2007
A Sydney man was reported to the DPI late yesterday after he allegedly transported a horse from Randwick racecourse to a property near Orange.
Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, said the owner of this property did the right thing by immediately reporting the illegal movement of a horse from the purple zone to Orange, which is currently in the amber zone, and free of horse flu.
"This enabled staff at DPI’s disease headquarters in Orange, with assistance from the Rural Crime Investigation Unit, to take immediate action, tracking the movement of the vehicle to Bathurst where it was pulled over," Mr Macdonald said.
"The vehicle has now been thoroughly decontaminated, and the property where the horse was delivered has been placed in quarantine as a precaution."
Mr Macdonald said while there was minimal risk of the horse having any infection, the DPI was taking the matter seriously and would take all necessary precautions to reduce the chance of spread of the virus to the Orange area.
"This horse has also been isolated from all other horses on the property and will remain isolated until the next course of action is determined," Mr Macdonald said.
"Circumstances surrounding this alleged illegal movement will be thoroughly investigated."
Mr Macdonald said penalties for the movement of horses without permit included fines of up to $44,000 and 12 months imprisonment.
Vehicles and equipment can also be immediately confiscated.
"Those people who do the wrong thing face very severe penalties," Mr Macdonald said.
Police and NSW Department of Primary Industries investigations are underway into an alleged serious breach of equine influenza movement restrictions at Orange.

SOURCE: NSW DPI and FarmOnline.