It’s official, Bathurst’s in the green as an Equine Influenza free declared zone

BATHURST became an Equine Influenza-free green zone as of midnight Friday.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries announced earlier that day Bathurst would be downgraded from a restricted area (amber zone) to a protected area (green zone) free of the disease.
Other areas to be changed to a green zone were Orange, the Upper Lachlan, Blayney, Yass Valley and Junee.
Other local government areas such as Wellington, Cowra, Forbes, Lithgow, Parkes, Narromine and Cootamundra were partly moved to a green zone.
The changes mean 84 per cent of NSW is now green zone.
Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, said this downgrade was a huge step towards eradicating EI in the country.
“From [Saturday] horse owners in the new green zones will be free to move their horses within the zone after obtaining a Travelling Horse Statement for each movement,” Macdonald said.
“This is another major step in the government’s plan to progressively downgrade the risk in infected areas as horse flu burns out, lifting movement restrictions, easing disinfection requirements and gradually resuming horse events.
“Maintaining good biosecurity and keeping tight control over horse movement in high risk areas remain vital to keep horse flu contained and continuing with second round vaccination is crucial to continue to build up horse immunity.”
Extensive proof-of-freedom testing has been carried out in these regions to allow the zoning changes to be made.
Macdonald said there was still a long way to go before EI is eradicated and continued testing and surveillance will be carried out in the more high-risk zones.