Helpful Hints

I have had a similar experience in the treatment of my horses. None of them had worked for 17 days before they got the flu (in fact one hadn't worked for over a year and the other ever in its life - unbroken). I knew when EI was only a few days away and uped the ante regarding monitoring. The one horse I ride (19 yo) presented with lethargy, laboured breathing and a horrible yellow nose and I immediately took his temperature (39.7) and administered Bute and antibiotic powder (reported him to the DPI) and called the vet. The vet came out and declared he was "flatter" than he would have liked so gave him a couple of injections. Both other horses were started on bute and powdered antibiotic. On Day 7 the air temp was close to 40 and my horse looked very unwell despite twice daily treatment. The vet came back out and listened to his chest and put him straight on bronchiodilator. Five days later he came out again and started the horse on multivitamin injections to help him on the uphill road. He was by far the sickest of the three, one of the other two spiked a temp once, had a runny nose for two days and then wondered what all the fuss was about!

I was very lucky that my vet had gained unprecedented experience with EI in the weeks before my horses got sick (if the red zone in Qld has a ripple effect, we are right next to where the stone hit the water!) and thinks the welfare of a sick horse is of paramount importance. We followed strict biosecurity measures and watched the horses like hawks.

My advice is don't wait - a temperature of 39.5 needs bute; a snotty nose (not clear) needs antibiotic; very laboured breathing needs a vet.
Best wishes to those waiting to get it and to those of us who have had it - sleep well.
Beth

MESSAGE TO INDUSTRY FROM THE AUSTRALIAN HORSE INDUSTRY COUNCIL

The Australian Horse Industry Council (AHIC) is a national peak body representing the Australian horse industry. The AHIC represents and promotes, at the federal level, the interests of all persons involved with horses and issues pertaining to the health and welfare of horses; personal safety of horse users; and other issues that can have widespread effects across the horse industry.

The main role of the AHIC is to provide a voice for the interests of horses and horse owners in national forums. The Australian horse industry includes many diverse groups. The issues affecting those groups are more effectively managed and addressed by a single body, rather than a multitude of organisations. A key objective of the AHIC is to address those issues common to the horse industry across Australia.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE ROLE OF AHIC DURING THE EI OUTBREAK?

AHIC has been involved at the forefront of negotiating better outcomes for the national horse industry through effective representation; ongoing communication with stakeholders; ensuring horse welfare; and lobbying for better outcomes for all horse industry participants.

Representation

• During the recent outbreak, the role of the AHIC has been to ensure that the voice of the recreational horse industry has been represented effectively at both a national and state level. Representation has included the following:Direct representation by the AHIC President, Dr Barry Smyth, on the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease (CCEAD) and National Management Group (NMG), the primary Federal Government response groups on EI;
• Direct face to face meetings and ongoing liaison with Minister McGauran, the Federal Minister responsible for the management of the EI outbreak at a national level;
• Direct representation on the NSW Government’s Ministerial Equine Influenza Response Group;
• Direct face to face meetings and ongoing liaison with the NSW DPI and Queensland DPI
• Ongoing liaison with other key industry bodies representing the recreational horse industry, including EFA National and EFA NSW.

In addition AHIC has prepared submissions to Minister McGauran on the impact of EI on the horse industry and is involved with ongoing representation and liaison with other key stakeholders in the industry.

AHIC has played a key role in assisting government departments responsible for the emergency response to collate information; resource projects; coordinate specific strategies and generally provide valuable assistance in working towards successful outcomes.

Ongoing effective communications strategy

Another key objective of AHIC is to liaise effectively with stakeholders to communicate key strategies and developments during the EI outbreak. Communications on all aspects of the EI outbreak have been regularly forwarded to members and are also distributed via the Horse Emergency Contact Database (HECD). This Database was established and is managed by AHIC for the specific purpose of assisting with emergency responses such as the EI outbreak.

AHIC has been working hard to respond to queries from industry; address ongoing issues; communicate important developments; and generally be viewed as a credible source of advice and information. Evidence of the success of this strategy has been demonstrated by both government and stakeholders continued referral to AHIC for advice and ongoing support.

Assisting industry participants

AHIC is aware that the Equine Influenza outbreak has impacted negatively on the industry. AHIC is committed to ensuring that all steps are taken to mitigate the economic downturn faced by the industry. This includes direct lobbying of Minister McGauran to increase the level of federal government assistance made available to the horse industry.

AHIC has also played a key role in helping industry identify direct and consequential losses incurred as a result of this outbreak. AHIC’s economic impact survey has been an important tool in quantifying industry losses. This information has been submitted to government for consideration with requests for immediate additional assistance to be made to industry. Direct face to face meetings between AHIC President and Minister McGauran have taken place on several occasions to ensure that the voice of industry is heard and that government is aware of the economic hardship faced by many affected by EI. AHIC will continue to lobby government for improved outcomes for industry members and participants.

FURTHER INFORMATION FOR INDUSTRY

What is the framework for managing the EI response?

The emergency response is being handled under the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) and its Cost Sharing Arrangements (CSA). EADRA is a contractual instrument between the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments, and peak national livestock industry groups. EADRA sets out clearly responsibilities for the individual parties to the contract and these are overseen by Animal Health Australia (another government/industry alliance). CSA apply only to costs directly related to the emergency response to eradicate EI, they do not apply to any consequential losses from EI infection or the emergency response. These consequential losses are where the various government assistance packages are aimed. Horse owners do not have to contribute towards alleviating consequential losses.

Once an emergency animal disease situation has been declared, a response must be formulated. There is an agreement between Governments and the horse industry that the response to this EI incursion will be under the terms of EADRA. This ensures that the Government will mobilise all necessary measures to help industry to cope with the disease incursion.
The ultimate aims of EADRA are identification, containment, control and eventual eradication of the emergency disease from Australia. Industry does not have access to the resources to tackle an emergency disease outbreak on its own. Initially all costs are met by Government, and industry pays back a share of the cost according to a formula based on the importance of the disease to human health and to its effects on the national economy.

Any response plan under EADRA must be formulated by the relevant CVOs (in both affected and unaffected jurisdictions) and submitted to the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease (CCEAD) for discussion and ratification. The relevant AUSVETPLAN manual is the technical guide used to formulate the response plan.

Any plans formulated and approved by CCEAD must then be sent for evaluation to the National Emergency Animal Disease Management Group (NMG) for final approval. This ultimate arbiter has an oversight role to ensure that things remain on track and are kept within budget.
The key objective of AUSVETPLAN IS containment and eradication
The initial strategy of movement stand still within the affected states has been very successful in containing the EI infection to a relatively limited area of NSW and QLD. While EI infections continue in the horse population, they are confined to the known areas of NSW and QLD. At this time, there have been no infections detected in other states or territories.
To supplement the containment strategy, CVOs in NSW and QLD have instituted a targeted vaccination program in buffer zones around the areas of known infection. This is aimed at providing a population of horses that will be immune to EI and markedly reduce chances of spread beyond the buffer zones.

Vaccination could not have commenced any sooner in the outbreak. The EI virus had to be identified so that the most appropriate vaccine could be chosen. Approval for emergency registration of the most appropriate vaccine had to be obtained and the appropriate permits issued. This was all achieved within the first month of the emergency. Under usual circumstances, approval for importation and use of a vaccine takes many months.

Costs of the Emergency Response

On the matter of costs, the shares of the EI emergency response are divided between the Federal (10%), State and Territory Governments (10%) and the horse industry (80%). Horse owners will pay an equal amount no matter what type of horse they own. It is important to realise that only costs directly related to containment and eradication of the EI outbreak are eligible for cost sharing.

Consequential losses from EI infection and the control measures are not included under cost sharing and industry is not liable for those. So costs associated with business disruption, loss of employment, loss of income and so on are not part of the costs to be paid for by industry.
AHIC considers that there needs to be a re-examination of the categorization of EI given the significant economic impact demonstrated in the current outbreak.

The Near Future

EI will continue to circulate in Australia’s naïve horses in the containment areas in the short term. Parallel with this will be increasing immunity in the surrounding population from natural infection and the vaccination program. Natural infection will impart better immunity than any vaccine. The hot dry summer weather is almost upon us and that will also help control the emergency by reducing chances of the EI virus surviving in the environment.

Experience in other countries is that emergency disease situations caused by EI infection last many months. The disease is controlled in countries where EI is endemic much more quickly because there is some underlying immunity from previous infection or vaccination. Importantly, vaccination programs seem to ensure that EI continues to circulate and make eradication programs more prolonged. The time of eradication of EI is also more difficult to predict in the face of vaccination.

The Long Term

Any predictions about when normal horse industry activities can resume completely are uncertain at the moment. Most of Australia remains free from EI infection and so resumption of events and gatherings should be feasible within the next couple of months assuming that EI does not escape from the current containment areas. It will take considerable co-operation and vigilance from all horse industry participants to contain the infection to the known areas of NSW and QLD. Some projections are that with due attention to biosecurity combined with immunity from disease and vaccination the current EI outbreak will be over by 2008.

Many horse industry participants have suffered severe business disruptions over the past few weeks, with some suffering irreparable damage to their operations. Many individual horse owners in all sectors have been seriously affected by EI and its repercussions. It is important to realise that this mirrors what has happened in other countries.

On an encouraging note, in all cases the horse industry has recovered to continue operations. There is no doubt that the Australian horse industry will bounce back. What is certain is that there will need to be a much more comprehensive oversight of horse industry activities in the future, with a national scheme of identification and registration of all horses, cohesive efforts to work together on all issues, and more public education and awareness of the vulnerability of the industry.

AHIC will continue to represent all participants in the horse industry on all issues that are relevant to the well being and needs of horses, as well as the many businesses and individuals involved in the industry across the country.

Barry Smyth
President

IMPORTANT VACCINATION UPDATE

22 October 2008 EFA NSW Members - If you were contacted last week by the EFA office regarding vaccination of your horse in the Red and Purple Zones and were included on the list for the DPI, and HAVE NOT YET HEARD from the DPI, please ask your own vet to contact Derek Major at Agnes Banks Vet Clinic on 02 4588 5200 or derek.major@agnesbanksequineclinic.com.au to access the vaccine for your EFA NSW performance horse/s. In the interests of making the process as efficient and effective as possible, please do not contact the clinic personally, your vet must be the point of contact.

DPI Qld 22-10-07

Current Information: There are currently 1384 infected properties in Queensland, an increase of 37 from yesterday. New confirmed infections remain restricted to the Beaudesert, Laidley, Esk, Brisbane City, Logan City and Gold Coast City areas Equine influenza is still contained to the Red Zone in the State's South East. Vaccination, as part of DPI&F program of containment and eradication is continuing.

TAKE HORSE FLU SERIOUSLY BEFORE IT TAKES ITS TOLL

Monday 22 October 2007

Regional Victoria, is the focus of a major television, radio and print campaign aimed at keeping Victoria horse flu free, the State’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Hugh Millar announced today.

“The horse community in regional Victoria has shown great courage and responsibility in the face of the threat of Horse Flu from over the border,” Dr Millar said. "Their hard work is paying off and I think they should be able to start planning for horse events after Christmas.”

“I want to acknowledge their tireless work and strident efforts, and I feel certain that the nonracing industry has contributed directly to keeping Victoria free of this disease, which could severely debilitate the horse community,” Dr Millar said.

Announcing the public awareness campaign, titled ‘Keep Victoria Horse Flu Free’, Dr Millar said that the major threat to Victoria’s horse flu free status was complacency.

“That’s why you will see and hear this campaign through regional television, radio and print advertising around the border, including southern New South Wales,” Dr Millar said.

“The campaign message is simple and clear: ‘Take it seriously before it takes its toll’.”

Dr Millar said we’ve already seen in New South Wales the toll that horse flu can take on the recreational non-racing community.

“Indeed, Victoria has suffered severe inconvenience and disruption as part of necessary and strict measures that have helped horse owners to keep Victoria horse flu free,” he said

“But if we drop our guard, things can get much worse, and stay that way for a long time; in some cases forever.

“If horse flu gets in, it will mean that strict quarantine, lockdowns, bio-security regimes and further and longer disruption to equestrian events will be unavoidable.

“If it takes hold, long term vaccination, horse passports and other costly measures will be needed to control this disease.

“So let’s do everything we can to keep it out. You hear this message repeated in the campaign: if you are in contact with horses observe strict hygiene - Wash your hands. wash your clothes, and wash your gear and equipment. Always!”

Riding for Disabled ponies vaccinated for equine flu

Twenty four invaluable ponies who work in the Riding for the Disabled programmes at Pegasus have been vaccinated against equine flu. Pegasus staff and vets from the Canberra Vet Hospital worked in the dark last night to microchip and vaccinate the horses.

The vaccination came about after a change in policy by both the NSW and ACT Governments. The list of priority horses for vaccination was expanded by the NSW Department of Primary Industries earlier this week to include Riding for the Disabled horses. The ACT Government has now broadened their vaccination policy to include Pegasus Riding for the Disabled horses.

Read more.

Equine influenza daily update - 22 October 2007

SITUATION UPDATE
A new infection is currently being investigated in the northern part of the Dubbo vaccination buffer area. All other infected properties reported in the past 24 hours are in the Red and Purple Zones.

Today’s statistics: 4919 Infected Properties (IPs); 451 Dangerous Contact Properties (DCPs); 476 Suspect Properties (SPs); a total of 6731 horses out of 13476 have been vaccinated in the buffer areas so far.

Surveillance testing is currently being implemented at Coonamble, Coonabarabran, Berry, Walcha and Gloucester Tops. Negative results from this campaign will allow the status for these Red Zones to be modified.
Planning for recovery after the EI crisis is also an important component of the EI campaign. The establishment of a number of industry consultative groups has been proposed to assist with the management of the recovery process for equine industries.

Horse owners are reminded that observing the recommended biosecurity measures for personal hygiene is critical for the EI eradication campaign to be successful. Ensuring that people entering your property have undertaken the necessary personal hygiene recommendations is the easiest way to protect your horses.

In response to the confusion surrounding the responsibilities of individuals when crossing zone boundaries the RTA have placed mobile signs on some boundaries to notify the travelling public of the zone they are entering or leaving.

Survey of uninfected horses

Horse owners are reminded that the survey of uninfected horses in the Red or Purple Zones has been extended. If you are in these zones and have uninfected horses, please complete the survey at : http://www.surveymaster.com/AHIC/Q1.asp

Vaccinations

Vaccination of the prioritised horses identified by the Australian Horse Industry Council uninfected horse survey will commence in the Purple Zone after Wednesday 24 October. The operation will be coordinated by the Local Disease Control Centre (LDCC) using the existing Forward Command Posts (FCP).

The EFA have commenced vaccinations of EFA registered horses in the Purple Zone. They will also be vaccinating all other horses present on the property during the visit.

Current information on the vaccination program can be found at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza/vaccination

Registration of infected horses

Horse owners are reminded that infected horses and properties must be
registered on the DPI website at: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/influenza/information/horse-owners-restricted-areas/form

Movement of horses

To date, there have been 3403 movement permits issued by the Local Disease Control Centre (LDCC).
The movement of horses for training in the Amber Zone has been assessed and there have been some modifications granted to the movement restrictions. The relevant changes to the movement restrictions are published on the web at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/influenza/movements/amber-zone
Current information on the guidelines for the all movements of horses can be found at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza/movements

Community meetings

The community meetings organised for this week are:
Monday 22 October: Maitland, Gulgong and Grenfell.
Tuesday 23 October: Gloucester, Blayney, Bathurst and West Wyalong
Wednesday 24 October: Albion Park, Mangrove Mountain, Cessnock, Oberon and Coolamon.

Thursday 25 October: Rylestone, Goulburn, Armidale and Temora.
For information about community meetings and future meeting dates see:www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza/meetings

Maitland meeting to air horse flu eradication concerns

A Maitland vet says a key concern he hopes will be addressed at tonight's horse flu information session is whether the disease can be eradicated from Australia.

The meeting in Maitland, in the New South Wales Hunter region, is being held by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and will involve local vets, horse industry groups and rural lands protection board representatives.

It follows yesterday's announcement of a further $117 million in Federal Government funding to assist the commercial horse industry.
Maitland vet Ian Gollon says the disease has been around for two months and people want to know how long it is going to last.

"The major concern is just how far it is going to go and whether this disease is controllable and eradicable, or whether it becomes an endemic disease here and we have to look at widespread vaccinations," he said.
"There's been a number of adaptations to our expectations as to where it's going as it's gone along."

Isn't it ironic

I am writing this blog to vent my absolute frustration with this current EI debacle.

I have 2 lovely thoroughbreds that I had buyers for just as EI hit. I have kept both horses in lockdown feeding and caring for them with both people saying they will buy the horses once they are able to move them. Both buyers are in a red zone while I am in a buffer zone. The DPI says I'll give you $500-00 to move these horses into an infected zone as long as you do it before 31st October. I think great, I can sell these horses and move them on to their new owners before I have to leave where I am living, in a rented property where the lease runs out in November. While I am at work the DPI turn up at the property and vaccinate both horses WITHOUT MY CONSENT and now tell me I cannot move them, even though we have not reached the 31st October deadline that the DPI set.

Who is going to re-imburse me for the sales that may fall through for these horses? Who is going to look after these horses when I have to move? More to the point who has the right to conduct invasive procedures on my animals WITHOUT MY CONSENT.

The frustrating thing is that my case is not an isolated case or even the worse example of the side effects of what is going on in relation to EI. Suddenly it has become OK for people to come onto your property and interfere with your animals without permission. Suddenly it is OK for struggling horse owners to be slugged with economic losses because the govt stuffed up quarantine (and people like me don't qualify for financial assistance). Suddenly it is OK for horses to be forced to stay somewhere where they cannot be properly cared for.

Ironic really that people are screaming out for vaccinations for their horses and can't get one and the DPI is giving them out willy nilly to people like me who didn't want to go in that direction as I had other arrangements for these particular horses.

This is so typical of beaureaucrats, they won't admit mistakes and they are so rigid and inflexible in their processes that they cannot make the necessary changes and decisions required with such complex issues such as EI.

Good luck everybody because we really need it.

Scott

EI………….Whenever……………

I may be missing something here…

I’m in the SE Queensland Red Zone and the current “indications” are that horse movements may be relaxed by Christmas if everyone does their bit observing stringent biosecurity and the enforced standstill meanwhile.

Then what? If Christmas IS the timeframe (and I for one seriously doubt it), we can move horses to Instructor’s properties, trail ride destinations, the beach (in NSW in my case), Pony Club and other grounds, etc? I think not. There will be a total uneasiness and consciousness about the “threat” or otherwise of your horse/s, the transport, equipment and so on as there can only be THREE scenarios….

1. Those that have had EI
2. Those who haven’t, and…
3. Those who have been vaccinated.

I’m sitting here thinking about Warwick and the cancelled August World Cup Qualifier currently re-scheduled for mid-March 2008. I don’t think I’d want to even front for that Show in light of the above three points and risk another outbreak/lockdown etc and I can’t see the elite riders doing so in confidence either. I was caught in the Warwick lockdown with two horses and that memory is way too fresh to risk a repeat!

My bottom line opinion is this…Strategic vaccination coupled with eradication through “natural burnout“ will likely take months and months and months and eat well into next years Show and Event itinerary if not obliterating it altogether. EI has been way in front of the DPI from the outset and again in my opinion there are only TWO near term outcomes….

1. Approved availability of Vaccine so that those who want/need to can… (At least this is a foreseeable outcome and has a timeline), or…
2. Eventual eradication… (This is the big “whenever”. Pick your date as no-one REALLY knows. We have to wait out natural spread and/or vaccination at the DPI’s behest!)

As a responsible and disciplined equestrian, I want to be able to attend future Events in some confidence knowing that through vaccination, I have protected my horses and those that belong to others attending.

My experience in the SE Queensland eventing circuit is that the wonderful people involved would want to treat me with the same courtesy.

Good Luck to us all.

KGR (Gold Coast)

Staying Vigilant

Good morning,

I just wanted to post a quick reminder for everyone to stay vigilant, informed and to abide by the requirements put in place by the DPI. I had an experience this past weekend that should serve as a reminder to everyone to please stay informed with the correct information.

I live just outside Canberra in the Green Zone, but also right on the ACT boarder, and this past weekend while out in my garden I was very surprised to see three riders happily riding past my place. I knew that movement in the green zone was permitted with a travelling horse statement, but I have found that horse owners in my local area are still cautious about using the permits just for going on a Sunday ride. We are all just working horses on our own properties and doing our bit to lay low.

Concerned and realising they were not any of my close horsey neighbours, I rang the EI Hotline to check my information. The Hotline staff were very helpful and confirmed the information I had. I then hopped in my car drove down the road to find the riders and to ask if they did indeed have Travelling Horse Statements. They didn't so I advised that they need to complete these before moving horses within the green zone. At this point one of the riders insisted that that was not the case and that you only need to complete statements if you are floating horses. I indicated that that made no sense and advised that I had spoken with the EI Hotline prior to leaving my home. I was shocked when the response I received was that one of the riders worked for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service so knew what the rules were and that the advice was not correct. Shocked further by that, I stated that I didn't want to get into an argument and said that I would report the incident. I did contact the local Police who were very good about it and were pleased I had checked if they had statements and when I found they didn't had reported it to the authorities. They then sent a patrol car out for a drive in the local area and handled it from there.

My point in all this is that it is a little scary that horse owners are either not staying informed or have incorrect information. I certainly don't want to be a "dobber", but at the same time it is people with misinformation that are going to cause this disease to spread further.

Cath

EI assistance package extended to $227 million

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, today announced a $117 million extension to the Australian Government’s Equine Influenza (EI) assistance package.

“The original announcement of $110 million provided 12-weeks of assistance for people and businesses facing additional costs and significant financial hardship, as a direct result of the Equine Influenza quarantine measures.

“Today’s announcement of an additional $117 million extends this period for a further 12 weeks, in recognition of the continuing restrictions that remain in place to contain and eradicate EI,” Mr McGauran said.

The EI assistance will now be available until 8 February, 2008.

“Those individuals and businesses who are continuing to experience financial hardship will be able to receive the Equine Workers Hardship Wage Supplement for another 12 weeks and many businesses who have already accessed the Business Assistance Grant will be eligible for a further grant of $5000,” Mr McGauran said.

“Additionally, where horses are still unable to generate their normal income, the Commercial Horse Assistance Payment will also be extended for another 12 weeks.

“The funding available to eligible non-government, not-for-profit equestrian organisations has also been increased. Those organisations that have been granted assistance already may be eligible for additional assistance, where they continue to incur costs as a result of the continued restrictions on horse movements,” Mr McGauran concluded.

The financial impact of this commitment will be fully reflected in the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Further information on the assistance measures available log on to www.outbreak.gov.au or call the EI assistance line on 1800 002 234.

Vaccination in Purple and Red Zone Q and A

Wendy Cohen, Sunday, 21 October 2007
How to get your horse vaccinated if you are EI free and in the Red or Purple Zone

CRITERIA

- In the Red or Purple Zone
- No EI on property
- Reasonable expectation of staying free of disease for 7-14 days

HOW DO I GET IT

EFA Members contact your vet and ask if they can give vaccination
If you are an EFA member in NSW, ask your VET to obtain the vaccine through Derek Major, at Agnes Banks Equine Clinic 0245885200.

If you are not an EFA member, ask your vet to recommend a vet who can give vaccination and tell them to obtain vaccine through Derek Major, at Agnes Banks Equine Clinic 0245885200.

Non EFA members contact the DPI give them your contact details and the number of horse you need vaccinated.

The AHIC have a survey on their site www.horsecouncil.org.au which will enable registration for vaccination. You can contact Dr Rod Hoare (Industry Liaison) at Orange on 63 913743 or industry@dpi.nsw.gov.au

You can contact the State Chief Veterinarian Office, Dr.Bruce Christie at DPI Orange on bruce.christie@dpi.nsw.gov.au

IMPORTANT POINTS TO KNOW

Whether you get the vaccination through the DPI or the EFA you will find
There is a priority list in place, so when you order your vaccinations you should state:
If the horse has EFA Performance Cards
If the horse is a breeding stallion or mare
If it is other than the above

WHY IS THERE A PRIORITY LIST?

Because when it was decided that vaccinations would take place within the Red and Purple Zones the DPI stipulated that their priority was for vaccinations to take place in the Buffer Zones first (disease control). The EFA was asked to give a list of our performance horses in the Red and Purple zones because these horses were considered next in line of priority. The EFA issued a list of horses with Performance Cards in order that we could get in ‘our bid’ for a number of vaccine doses. We were allocated 3,000. When vets visited some properties there were other horses on the property which clearly needed vaccinating at the same time, so the EFA vets worked out a deal with DPI which means that EFA vaccine stocks are topped up by DPI when horses are vaccinated on the same property but are not EFA registered horses. DPI is also working through accredited vets to vaccinate horses asap in the Red and Purple Zones. The ‘live’ canary pox vaccine requires particular handling and protocols, therefore vets need to be familiar with those protocols and accredited to use the vaccine.

DO I HAVE TO BE PATIENT?

Unfortunately the distribution system for the vaccine is limited by the quantity available and the accreditation of vets to use it. The requirements for accreditation have been made much simpler in the last week DPI requirements previously, required face to face accreditation, this is no longer the case. Derek Major for Agnes Banks Equine Clinic, has put in hours of voluntary service to our industry since the beginning of the outbreak of EI.

His practice has taken on the responsibility of the delivery of the vaccine to other vets as well as the arduous job of mass vaccination for our members. Please understand that he does not have a massive call centre and lots of staff to organize instant vaccination.

If the racing industry is successful in persuading the government that racehorses should be vaccinated Australia wide then clearly the situation will change because Australia will have to accept that EI isendemic. Vaccination strategy will then have to be agreed on a national basis.

We hope this is useful in assisting our members and those of the wider horse community to understand the background to the present problems. The EFA is dedicated to the service of our members and to assisting the horse industry generally. We have a small and absolutely motivated staff, but, we are not able, to be all things to all people. We hope you will understand that our resources are fully extended at this very demanding time.

Federal Minister is Peter McGauren, not McDonald !!

Sorry Diane,

You have your ministers mixed up. Ian McDonald is the NSW Minister for Agriculture. Peter McGuaren is the Federal Minister. Whilst I'm not interested in the Melbourne Cup, I really can't see the problem for letting Leica Falcon compete. Victoria have relaxed their stance and are looking at letting horses from the green zones enter in 2 weeks anyway. He's not been near infected horses, he's literally just over that "magical border line", so not like he's in the middle of Randwick Racecourse.

Remember that shuttle stallions that were dropped off in Melbourne just before the ones that "had EI" got off in Sydney- so they shared the same airplane. I think they'd pose more risk than Leica Falcon, as could anyone of the overseas starters as they are all vaccinated too. Don't forget, Melbourne will have and influx of punters from many of the hot spots in NSW and QLD too. Food for thought.

Sue

Brisbane horses back to work after restrictions relaxed

The Queensland Turf Club says trackwork has resumed at Eagle Farm and Doomben racetracks in Brisbane this morning thanks to an easing of horse flu restrictions.

Spokesman Stephen Ferguson says all the horses involved have been inoculated against equine influenza or have already caught it naturally.

Read more.

$117m help for Equine Influenza victims

October 22, 2007

THE embattled horse industry has received a $117 million boost, with the Federal Government extending its assistance for a further 12 weeks following the equine influenza outbreak.

Federal Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Peter McGauran said the new aid will start on November 17 and continue to February for those affected by EI since August 25.

This extension would start once the original 12-week financial aid for the equestrian industry ends on November 17, McGauran told reporters at Centennial Park in Sydney yesterday.

Read more.

Federal Minister for Agriculure wants to break bans for one racehorse!

OUTRAGE!!!!! IT IS NO WONDER WE HAVE EI IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN WE HAVE OUR OWN FEDERAL MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, IAN MCDONALD LOBBYING TO LET LEICA FALCON INTO VICTORIA FOR THE MELBOURNE CUP!!!!!!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE MR. BRUMBY STAND YOUR GROUND AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND FAIR FOR ALL.

Maybe this is a ploy to make Mr. Brumby look bad.What hope do we have against EI when people running this country want to break the rules that everyone else has to abide by? Once again, favouritism for racehorses and risk all the horses in Victoria for one racehorse. Obviously, money talks ....etc. Thanks very much!.

All other horse owners are not important according to our federal government! Wake up, Ian McDonald, the horse may have been tested negative for EI & been vaccinated but at any time he could acquire the disease post his test , and yes ( I guess our illustrious minister must be unaware !!!! ....or doesn't care..) vaccinated horses can still carry the disease. Not only that but stable hands who may have been on other properties, equipment and vehicles. Obviously Mr.Mcdonald doesn't give a brass razoo for all you people out there who have been suffering because of the restrictions imposed. It is no wonder people in this country have little respect for politicians.

Diane,
Victorian horse owner

AI vs. Shuttle Stallions

The horse magazine wrote an article this month on artificial insemination vs. shuttle stallions in the racing industry.

Racings reason for not allowing AI is because they won’t be able to get as much money as too many people will be able to get easy access to semen. I don’t know why no one has thought of just putting a limit on how many mares get served, then the racing stallions keep their worth and our whole country becomes a lot safer.

Also- I think many people in the racing industry need to be given a break, I know many people with racehorses who have no more money than you or me, and have their sole income through the horses, and are finding this just as hard as everyone else. Everyone is suffering because of this and everyone needs to stick together and stop playing the blame game.

Melissa

Re: the Welfare of ex-racehorse issue

The topic is raised of vaccinated horse not being allowed to go NZ, have eventing horse, former very slow galloper, serious prospect for rider that represented has Australia in Trans-Tasman in 1999, won Adelaide 4 star 2000, short list for Sydney 2000, tragic circumstances prevented Billy Bathgate from being part of that team, obviously would dearly love to be able to represent our country again and is training/preparing horse for such. I own the horse, if we move to protect the horse from EI do we rule out chances of the rider and horse getting the chance to ride for Australia because of regulations in other countries?

Julia McLean

Helpful Hints

I took preventative measures to keep EI symptoms to a minimum and I'm happy to say, it worked! If you think EI is coming your way, you might find this information helpful.I have 16 horses in my care, aged 0 to 28, ( one foal was born inthe midst of EI )All horses got infected a few weeks ago and all had minimal symptoms.

NOT ONE got secondary infections. depressed, sore, loss of appetite,pneumonia, colic.One horse had NO symptoms at all as it was vaccinated overseas THREE years ago.

Her off spring (yearling filly, born in Australia, never vaccinated for EI) had almost no symptoms except a snotty nose and a temp rise.The other 14, all had a mild cough and a bit if a snotty nose, I canonly explain it by the way we managed it so I thought, now that we successfully got through it, I might share this with you, hoping it will help your horses.

Once I knew it was coming my way within the next two weeks, I stopped training and simplified their diets to a mixture of; wheaten chaff,bran, oats, grassy or barley hayI also added herbs in once a day (garlic, rosehip, echinasea; 2tablespoons of each per horse) Once EI was here, I gave every horse, from the moment it got a temperature, some bute for 3 days ( 5ml, or one sachet morning and evening)

All horses dropped their temps within a few hours and did not get atemp back.

All horses were given medication in the form of BROMO TRIMIDINE or BTS for 10 days as soon as I heard the first cough, even though most stopped coughing within a week I still gave them a 10-day treatment and daily temperature checks.

The BTS is not just an anti-bacterial, it has a mucolytic effect as well, and makes their cough less dry ( and less harmful )I hope this information will be helpful, all the other horse owners I speak to, have had much more severe symptoms, the coughs of neighbouring horses were much louder and dryer, most of them did not treat their horses until it had secondary infections.

SPR Horses.com

Disaster Strikes

I’m a 15yr old boy from a horsey family,
Our property is about 12km out of Armidale NSW, we have 2 horses currently at home and they are under threat of EI.
Two properties barely 3 km away have been placed under quarantine.
Several cases have been detected in the surrounding districts and there’s NOT A DAMN THING ANY1 CAN DO ABOUT IT!!!!!!!
I am particularly worried about my 23 yr old Arabian gelding. We are told that older horses and foals are at greater risk of contracting EI.
Too many people’s livelihoods have been put in jeopardy because of this disease, a large percentage of these people having no
Relations with the racing industry or the thoroughbred breeding industry.
And how dare the racing industry blame recreational horses for spreading the disease,
IT IS TIME FOR US TO DEMAND ANSWERS,
ANSWERS FOR QUESTIONS REGUARDING JUST EI ACTUALLY GOT INTO
AUSTRALIA.Henry