Important Message from AHIC President Barry Smyth
The national horse industry continues its strong support for the combined efforts of governments and industry participants to contain and eradicate Equine Influenza. There has been no deviation by participants in the non-racing sectors from the aim of eradicating EI from Australia. I had a meeting on Monday 29 October with representatives of the national groups representing Quarter Horses, Arabians, Stock Horses, Ponies and EFA. I had a meeting on Wednesday 31 October with Victorian representatives of Pony Club, EFA, Agricultural Shows and Adult Riding club. AHIC has also had extensive feedback from surveys on the web site. Other States also provide similar views. The messages are quite clear and consistent ever since the outbreak of EI commenced in August:
1. Non-racing sector wants eradication of EI.
2. Non-racing sector does not want to live with an endemic EI situation.
3. Non-racing sector is against use of vaccine outside the agreed purposes of containment, disease reduction, and (with a great deal of reluctance) mitigation of some economic losses.
4. Non-racing sector is against use of vaccine in non-infected jurisdictions.
5. Non-racing sector is prepared to continue to cancel or delay gatherings and events until after 31 December in the interests of the national horse industry to reduce risk of EI spread. This is voluntary in non-infected jurisdictions and is done at considerable cost to non-racing sectors, but they are prepared to continue this with the thought that they will be able to commence events early in the new year with added biosecurity measures to be determined over the next couple of months.
6. Non-racing sector is prepared to continue the eradication efforts beyond 1% GVP. How much beyond is difficult to determine at this stage. Continued feedback about success of ongoing efforts and costs will be essential for their decision making. Continuing with eradication for the next 3 months or more will be cheaper than the endemic situation.
7. Non-racing sector does not want mass vaccination under any circumstances. There is more than 50 years experience in endemic countries that this does not work and ensures ongoing costs of vaccination, treatment of sick horses, quarantine, unpredictable business disruption, and inability of horses to compete. Yes, events do continue in those countries where mass vaccination is allowed, but the pool of horses available to compete is reduced. Japan currently is a good example of this situation. 8. Non-racing sector does not want introduction of killed vaccines under any circumstances. This makes monitoring of disease spread impossible with current technology - cannot distinguish vaccinated from infected animals. So you have no idea where EI is circulating in the horse herd. Success or otherwise of eradication efforts are impossible to judge with use of killed vaccine. I hope this feedback from 85% of the national horse industry is useful for decision makers.
AHIC urges you to contact immediately your:
• State Minister for Primary Industries,
• your local Federal and State member, and
• the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
to voice your continued support for eradication of EI from Australia. Contact details are listed below : Hon Peter McGauran Federal Minster for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Peter.McGauran.MP@aph.gov.au Parliamentary Office : Ph: (02) 6277 7520 Fax: (02) 6273 4120 Electoral Office Tel: (03) 5144 6744 Fax: (03) 5144 3945 Sen Kerry O’Brien Shadow Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry senator.obrien@aph.gov.au Parliamentary Office Ph (02) 6277 3842 Fax (02) 6277 3780 Electoral Office : Ph (03) 6334 9366 Fax : (03) 6334 9369
State Ministers for Agriculture
Qld Tim Mulherin dpi@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Electoral Office (07) 4957 8422 Fax: (07) 4951 4794
NSW Ian McDonald macdonald.office@macdonald.minister.nsw.gov.au
Phone (02) 9228 3344 Fax (02) 9228 3452
VIC Joe Helper joe.helper@parliament.vic.gov.au
Parliamentary Office Ph (03) 9658 4670 Fax (03) 9658 4631 Or Electoral Office Tel: (03) 5461 1255 Fax: (03) 5461 1631
SA Rory McEwen pirsa.ministers@state.sa.gov.au
Ph (08) 8226 0322 Fax (08) 8226 0316
WA Kim Chance kim-chance@dpc.wa.gov.au
Phone (08) 9213 6700 Fax: (08) 9213 6701
NT Chris Natt minister.natt@nt.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8901 4132 Fax: (08) 8901 4134
Copyright 2005 Australian Horse Industry Council
1. Non-racing sector wants eradication of EI.
2. Non-racing sector does not want to live with an endemic EI situation.
3. Non-racing sector is against use of vaccine outside the agreed purposes of containment, disease reduction, and (with a great deal of reluctance) mitigation of some economic losses.
4. Non-racing sector is against use of vaccine in non-infected jurisdictions.
5. Non-racing sector is prepared to continue to cancel or delay gatherings and events until after 31 December in the interests of the national horse industry to reduce risk of EI spread. This is voluntary in non-infected jurisdictions and is done at considerable cost to non-racing sectors, but they are prepared to continue this with the thought that they will be able to commence events early in the new year with added biosecurity measures to be determined over the next couple of months.
6. Non-racing sector is prepared to continue the eradication efforts beyond 1% GVP. How much beyond is difficult to determine at this stage. Continued feedback about success of ongoing efforts and costs will be essential for their decision making. Continuing with eradication for the next 3 months or more will be cheaper than the endemic situation.
7. Non-racing sector does not want mass vaccination under any circumstances. There is more than 50 years experience in endemic countries that this does not work and ensures ongoing costs of vaccination, treatment of sick horses, quarantine, unpredictable business disruption, and inability of horses to compete. Yes, events do continue in those countries where mass vaccination is allowed, but the pool of horses available to compete is reduced. Japan currently is a good example of this situation. 8. Non-racing sector does not want introduction of killed vaccines under any circumstances. This makes monitoring of disease spread impossible with current technology - cannot distinguish vaccinated from infected animals. So you have no idea where EI is circulating in the horse herd. Success or otherwise of eradication efforts are impossible to judge with use of killed vaccine. I hope this feedback from 85% of the national horse industry is useful for decision makers.
AHIC urges you to contact immediately your:
• State Minister for Primary Industries,
• your local Federal and State member, and
• the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
to voice your continued support for eradication of EI from Australia. Contact details are listed below : Hon Peter McGauran Federal Minster for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Peter.McGauran.MP@aph.gov.au Parliamentary Office : Ph: (02) 6277 7520 Fax: (02) 6273 4120 Electoral Office Tel: (03) 5144 6744 Fax: (03) 5144 3945 Sen Kerry O’Brien Shadow Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry senator.obrien@aph.gov.au Parliamentary Office Ph (02) 6277 3842 Fax (02) 6277 3780 Electoral Office : Ph (03) 6334 9366 Fax : (03) 6334 9369
State Ministers for Agriculture
Qld Tim Mulherin dpi@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Electoral Office (07) 4957 8422 Fax: (07) 4951 4794
NSW Ian McDonald macdonald.office@macdonald.minister.nsw.gov.au
Phone (02) 9228 3344 Fax (02) 9228 3452
VIC Joe Helper joe.helper@parliament.vic.gov.au
Parliamentary Office Ph (03) 9658 4670 Fax (03) 9658 4631 Or Electoral Office Tel: (03) 5461 1255 Fax: (03) 5461 1631
SA Rory McEwen pirsa.ministers@state.sa.gov.au
Ph (08) 8226 0322 Fax (08) 8226 0316
WA Kim Chance kim-chance@dpc.wa.gov.au
Phone (08) 9213 6700 Fax: (08) 9213 6701
NT Chris Natt minister.natt@nt.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8901 4132 Fax: (08) 8901 4134
Copyright 2005 Australian Horse Industry Council
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