Horse flu war being won as restrictions eased in NSW, Tas

The campaign to eradicate horse flu has turned a corner today, with the equine influenza status of a large part of NSW moving from high risk to lower risk, and travel restrictions being eased in Tasmania. NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, says the second phase of the State Government's plan to defeat the exotic disease is now underway. "The Iemma Government has spent about $19 million so far on its effort to eradicate EI from NSW, we are running within the estimated budget and there is no doubt we have reached major milestones," Mr Macdonald said. "Infection in NSW peaked on 26 September and since then has been steadily declining. "And today almost half of the NSW Red Zone - about 4.5 million hectares - will be moved to Amber Zone status." This means that all or parts of the Coonamble, Moree Plains, Gwydir, Coonabarabran, Coolah and Dunedoo districts have now had their risk status downgraded. Testing of horses in those areas will continue to achieve proof-of-freedom in the future. And in Tasmania the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, has lifted the ban on importing horses into the State, but only from jurisdictions free of EI, and under strict permit conditions. Horses from NSW, Queensland and the ACT will not be permitted to enter Tasmania, and those horses that are allowed to enter will be subject to a horse movement strategy. "The protocols require that all horse movements will require a special authority issued by the Department," he said. "People applying for special authorities will need to provide details of the identification of each horse, properties from and to which they will be moved and the EI vaccination status of the horse. "Following risk assessment, a special authority may be issued for movement imposing a number of conditions."
In NSW Mr Macdonald said phase two of the EI Protection Plan includes:
* continued revision of zoning boundaries;
* second round vaccinations targeting 18,000 plus animals;
* exhaustive proof-of-freedom testing along the north coast to ultimately move 15 Local Government Areas from Amber to Green;
* further testing in other Amber Zones to move areas to EI Protected Green;
* vaccination of priority uninfected horses in the Purple Zone; and
* extension of the permit and travelling horse statement systems.

"Our intention has always been to contain the infection and ultimately eradicate it completely. This goal is reflected in our plan," he said. Mr Macdonald will meet with State and Federal counterparts later today where he will officially unveil phase two of the NSW EI Protection Plan.

SOURCE: The Land, NSW, weekly rural newspaper, posting news updates daily on FarmOnline.