International expert endorses Australian EI containment and eradication strategy

A visiting Equine Influenza (EI) expert from the UK says it is impressive that Australia has to date managed to contain its first ever equine influenza outbreak, especially as the initial outbreak covered such a large area.
Dr Richard Newton is the head of equine epidemiology and disease surveillance at the Animal Health Trust in the UK. Dr Newton recently travelled to Australia at the invitation of the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease which is coordinating the national technical response to the equine influenza outbreak. The Animal Health Trust conducts surveillance work for the UK horse racing industry and is a World Organisation for Animal Health reference laboratory for EI.
Dr Newton has significant experience in combating the virus and has commended the containment and eradication strategy which the Australian Horse Industry Council (AHIC) has been driving on behalf of all horse owners.
“Given the size of the outbreak in Australia, I am impressed that it has been contained. Excellent progress has been made to contain a highly infectious disease and this provides strong encouragement that eradication is possible,” said Dr Newton.
“However, it is likely that spot outbreaks could continue to occur which will require a quick response and ongoing vigilance with biosecurity measures.”
New EI Infected Premises have now reduced to an average of 5-10 per day in New South Wales and Queensland. At the peak of the epidemic the new Infected Premises were running at 249 daily in New South Wales and 153 per day in Queensland
“The containment strategy seems to have worked but there remains a real possibility that EI can continue to spread,” said Dr Barry Smyth, President, Australian Horse Industry Council. “To avoid this we all need to continue our vigilance which should result in a return to normal horse activities in the new year.”
Strict adherence to biosecurity guidelines, personal hygiene, wearing of protective clothing, proper disinfection of implements and vehicles, and the observance of movement restrictions all remain critical to the success of the eradication effort. Reporting disease also continues to be essential so that authorities know where to concentrate efforts and to deploy vaccination teams to control outbreaks
“It is now as important as ever to cooperate and act in a proactive manner as a national industry to completely eradicate EI in the first half of 2008,” said Dr Smyth.

Supplied by AHIC, Media Release 26 November 2007