Equine influenza daily update - 6 November 2007

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/influenza/information/daily-updates/6-november-2007

Disinfection procedures for skin, clothes and equipment

The documents below provide guidelines for disinfection and other information related to reducing the spread of equine influenza.
Guidelines for persons visiting a horse property
Guidelines for disinfection: Personal disinfection
Guidelines for disinfection: Vehicle disinfection
Guidelines for equine dentists, farriers and other horse industry workers
Guidelines for veterinarians: Property visits to horses / EI procedures
Disinfection and on-farm biosecurity (124KB)
See also:
Decontamination of vehicles leaving the Purple Zone

DPI creates buffer zone to restrict latest horse flu outbreak

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has imposed a restriction zone around the region's latest equine flu outbreak.

DPI deputy chief veterinary officer Ian Roth says the flu has been found on a property four kilometres south of Walcha.

He says the latest outbreak was probably spread because of human, not horse, contact because of its distance from the nearest infected property.
Mr Roth says an investigation is under way while the DPI lays plans to vaccinate horses in a buffer zone around it to stop the virus spreading.

Horse Deals tackle Federal ministers

I would like to congratulate Horse Deals, once again, for taking the considerable initiative to tackle Federal ministers head on and ask some typically vexing and, I would have thought, fairly sensible questions. Uppermost in all our minds actually. Nothing too scientific, since they don’t really understand that much, and of course, no technical ‘horse’ words that would confuse them.

Well – you cannot possibly be happy with this response can you? Two and a half pages of politician-speak from a vet (possibly not just any old vet but a vet nonetheless) Again, the horse readership (I really like that representation – it makes us sound less angry than we really are!) is reduced to sobbing with frustration into our feed bins, angrily throwing winter rugs back on our horses (as we have nothing else to do) and helplessly reading the Blog page in the vain hope that someone can shed some light into the pitch black.

The Great Race is about to start, and with it, the mindless tootling on about frocks and hats, and the empire building.

Meanwhile, back in Ordinary Land, the saddlery up the road in our little town, remains deserted. Several workers there have been laid off, or had their hours reduced. The owner looks increasingly uneasy since none of us know, least of all her, when this will end. She has racehorses, and when we all stand around ranting about the allowance ‘for certain race meetings’ (to quote the venerable vet) she is very quiet. Our anger is NOT about them, or the race meetings, it is about the double standard.

But the saving grace for this reader has to be the telling one sentence in the response. ‘During the election period, this department will be replying to correspondence addressed to the minister’. Ah yes. I see. I hope that you all do, and remember this one sentence when you are dutifully filling out your ballot papers. Because apparently the minister is more concerned with the election and what the future holds for him, rather than responding to the concerns of a few readers. Yes, sir. That ought to do it all right.



Karen Harrison

Meanwhile our EI nightmare continues ... weeks later ...

Late last night the matriarch of the Byalee broodmare herd, 21yo Virginia, gave up her fight for life, six weeks after showing her first symptoms of EI. Back in September, a week before Byalee Believe died and a week before little "Lucky" (alias Byalee Remember) was born, Virginia contracted EI. She had, we think, a pre-existing hernia in her diaphram, which was made much much worse by her chronic EI coughing. Her intestines flowed through the hole into chest cavity, taking up the room her lungs would usually have, and causing extreme colic, abnormal and exaggerated breathing, and a tachiacardic heart rate as she fought against it.

However, she miraculously lived through it, and through the emergency hour and a half trip to Satur Vet Clinic at Scone. She survived, still with incredibly rapid breathing, until breathing became absolutely impossible last night. She showed no signs of greater discomfort than usual, and picked a night when the vet nurses were actually at the clinic looking after a colic patient. Her groaning alerted them to her situation and so saved the foal, which was delivered by caesarian as she died. Virginia even gave a litre of colustrum post-death as her final contribution to giving the chestnut filly, Byalee Bronte, a chance at life. Any other night and they would've found her dead in the paddock next morning. What a grand old lady - she couldn't have tried any harder for her foal!

Bronte is 24 days premature, which wouldn't be so bad if she hadn't had such a struggle to survive in utero for the past six weeks. She is pysiologically mature, but tiny. She hasn't received enough oxygen nor nutrients. However, she was born alive and is still alive 24 hours later - however she is on oxygen, on a drip, and with a feeding tube while her sucking reflex develops. She is reasonably bright and responsive and "talks" to people and the clinic cat. She knows who feeds her and would love to escape from her blankets to wriggle around and try to stand up (not that she could!). She is definitely NOT allowed to try to stand up while attached to all her paraphenalia. She will be in intensive care for at least the next three days until she can be weaned off her oxygen and drip, and only when she has a sucking reflex and takes a bottle will she come home - in the car! Oh joy, and so we will begin hourly feeds all over again, only this time for MUCH longer than with Lucky.

I am aware that some people might say we shouldn't have bothered trying to keep her alive, and it probably isn't economic time-wise nor money-wise, but we figured that since old Virginia tried so hard to hang on for her, we really should give it a go. Fingers crossed yet again.

After all, "Lucky" defied the odds - today he cantered outside for the first time (in hand, five weeks old in half an hour!). He will be the perfect led exhibit by the time he is six weeks old at this rate. For those wondering - he isn't allowed to go free - that would be like galloping a dressage horse first ride back post-EI, after it's been locked in a box for five weeks. And when it has never been out of the box!! We didn't get him this far to see him drop dead from too much too soon!


Update on Tuesday: Little Bronte is still there ... her oxygen has been turned back a bit - a bad foal apparently would be on 8 to 12, while Bronte started on a 6, and is back to a 4, and it will go down again until it is off. She actually flicked the breathing tube out twice during the night and didn't deteriorate without it so I guess her lungs are okay. She is having a greater amount of milk tubed per hour. Her sucking reflex is getting better, and she will have a reasonable drink from a bottle when stimulated. They tested her response to food by not feeding her on the half hour this morning and sure enough by 40minutes she was screaming for her milk when they came near her. Oh dear, a demanding female already! They wanted to check that she wasn't just lying there ... guess not! She's had all of her mother's colustrum and is into the frozen mare milk at the clinic, and her systems are all fine with no reflux ... nothing has gone wrong, so she is just getting bigger and stronger, I guess.
On the down side, she isn't quite as alert and bright today - nothing they can put their finger on - so they are a little worried about that. She is better in all the physical ways but her attitude isn't as perky.
Damn, just when we were getting hopeful....

Ann-Maree Lourey

HORSE FLU WON OR LOST MR McDONALD?

The campaign to eradicate horse flu has turned a corner today, as predicted....CUP DAY !!!!!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,"more like gallstones! Mr Macdonald said. "Infection in NSW peaked on 26 September and since then has been steadily declining. 'cause most of NSW is infected you donkey! "And today almost half of the NSW Red Zone - about 4.5 million hectares - will be moved to Amber Zone status." This is a welcome relief- no racetracks of note around there huh? Unlike Sydney which copped E.I. first. 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." Public servants love paper, don't they? What fun they must be having!
In NSW Mr Macdonald said phase two of the EI Protection Plan includes:
* continued revision of zoning boundaries; "THE CUP DAY"
* 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; Give us our exhaustive Freedom now!!!!!
* further testing in other Amber Zones to move areas to EI Protected Green;
* vaccination of priority uninfected horses in the Purple Zone; and This translates toThoroughbreds.
* extension of the permit and travelling horse statement systems. More paper!

"Our intention has always been to contain the infection ROTFL (Roll On The Floor Laughing) 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.

This is the day Australia wide bets $153 million on "THE CUP" $53 million of that came from NSW- they had a lot to lose didn't they?.........money....money.....money speaks!

This little black duck won't be betting.

-Carmen Bajpe

Representation to Federal Member of Parliament

On 8th October 2007 Horse Deals sent a letter to Federal Member for Barker, Patrick Secker regarding Equine Influenza. Patrick Secker's office forwarded this representation to the Hon. Peter McGauran MP, Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry.

Horse Deals recently received a response from the department. This response is available here as a downloadable PDF document.

The original letter sent from Horse Deals primarily requested information on the following points:

"We write to you on behalf of this readership aiming to:

• Ascertain how race meets are permitted to continue, thus increasing the risk of the spread when smaller events, even in non affected areas have been stopped.

• Have the Equine Industry represented and recognised as a whole, not segregated into recreation and race.

• Prompt consideration of a National Strategy whereby DPI agencies work together to contain/control the outbreak and decisions are made at a Federal level for the wellbeing of ALL voters.

• Gain recognition from our Government that this outbreak is crippling more than just the racing industry and, where possible, have this reflected in media releases/reports. Many stakeholders in the recreational industry feel forgotten due to the lack of acknowledgement by the Government and mainstream media and therefore feel their Government is not willing to assist them to the same extent as the racing industry.

• Receive confirmation as to who allocates the vaccination and why/how it is more justified for the racing industry when other voters are also being forced to stop their businesses and subsequently lose considerable income and important qualification events.

• Demonstrate the hardship and possible loss of livelihood that is imminent for many voters who derive the majority of their income from horse related services/products (this extends far beyond the racing industry)."

Read the response here as a downloadable PDF document.

Prevention measures worked against horse flu: Chief Vet

The Department of Primary Industries says Victoria remains free of equine flu, on the eve of the Melbourne Cup.

The DPI has spent about four-million dollars on efforts to stop the disease, since the first outbreak was discovered in New South Wales in August.

A ban on moving horses across the Victorian border is still in place, while a vaccination program is underway.

Victoria's chief vet, Doctor Hugh Millar, says he's pleased the measures have worked so far.

"It certainly gives me a lot of pleasure that we've got to this point but having said that I wouldn't want anyone for a moment to think that that's what it was all about," he said.

"And that when the Spring Carnival is over we'll all simply pack up and go home because that's absolutely the last thing we're going to do."

www.abc.net.au/news

Spoilt sports indeed

are you kidding?? We have EI now because racehorses were swept thru Quarantine before mandatory time & Govt was lax with the whole situation. The govt got the racehorses vaccinated because money was being lost at TAB & Th/bred owners whinging how precious their th/breds are..They hardly had to dip into their pocket at all.

I still have sick horses a month after intially contracting EI ,they have become sicker the second time round,hundreds of $$$ later which i wont be compensated for or Rego on float or any memberships i have payed this year.I dont have a registered business or staff to wipe the green mucus & blood coming from their noses my devastated kids are helping me.These horses share our lives with decades of thoughtful breeding not depending how much money they make me.

But Race horses are off & racing while we will continue to be locked down until 2008/09 as there are still infected places popping up everywhere.What a joke containment & eradicating you are deluded as the people running the show !!!


Boycott YOU BET !!

JC

Equine Influenza - current and into the future

There is a document on the QLD DPI website titled: Equine Influenza - current and into the future. It's like NSW's exit plan. It has been on the DPI website since the 30th of October.

JA

HD Note: See the full report on the Horse Deals Equine Influenza Upadate Gallery (PDF Format)

Don't boycott the Cup

Don't boycott the Cup as it is as Australian as the 'fair go' philosophy.But please use it as a time to reflect on all the people currently affected by EI who are hurting.I have encouraged all my friends to donate the money they would spend on the race towards their local not for profit horse group eg Riding for Disabled,poney club,Clydesdale Rescue to help these peolpe continue to care for their horses and one day (hopefully soon) to go back to providing all the joy that riding and driving a horse can give.I just watched the news, where a woman was going to spend $2000 on a hat for Melbourne Cup and all I can think of is what a waste...I wish that she would donate the money to something more worthwhile than personal vanity...Maybe it's a sign of the times.I hope not!

Werribee Park re quarantine

Just wanted to reply to "A question for Werribee Park re quarantine".

Last week after hearing the news that WPNEC was to be used as a quarantine station for NSW horses I called the DPI to ask a few simple questions. Today I had my call returned by a vet from the DPI, she advised the following comments: Oh this was prior to being hung up on for no apparent reason!!

Quarantine in NSW had not yet started, therefore

The dates for a quarantine station at WPNEC had not yet been set.

It is for pleasure/competition horses that have been stranded in NSW since August, some of these horses have had EI, the race horses would then follow!

DPI basically want EI eradiated before any shows start up (a time frame of approx 3 months was mentioned), they seem to think that it is only the minority that wants vaccination and not the majority.

Was also advised that the equestrian community was not prevented from holding events so long as the bio security measures were put into place. Who in their right mind would put their horses at risk with the possibility of EI 100 metres away!! Will WPNEC be available in January & February for the equestrian community or will it still be reserved by the DPI as a quarantine station?

Shelley

ARB takes aim

SYDNEY - Two days before the Callinan Inquiry into how Equine Influenza entered Australia resumes, the Australian Racing Board (ARB) has taken aim at former Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss.

Truss has said previously the ARB was "hypocritical on quarantine' because it asked him to overturn a ban on horses travelling from the United Kingdom in 2001.

“The claim of hypocrisy is unfounded and we reject it outright, ARB chairman Bob Pearson said in a statement today.

"What we asked for in 2001 was not a relaxation of quarantine measures but for a rational science-based decision be made and for quarantine policy to be applied consistently,” he said.

“The correspondence sent to the then Minister in 2001 tells the story clearly and it bears no resemblance to the claims made by Mr Truss over the weekend," he said.

"The subsequent decision by AQIS and biosecurity to overturn the ban puts it beyond any shadow of doubt that the ARB was actually the body responsible for calling for the Government to implement good quarantine policy ... I call on Mr Truss to withdraw his totally unfounded claims.”

www.turfmonthly.com.au

Where the champions go

Living Legends brings together retired champions. They may have slowed but they still have plenty to give, writes Max Presnell.

After their glory days, great horses, and the not-so-outstanding Melbourne Cup winners, are left to a boring paddock life with only the flies for company. But they never lose character nor the ability to provoke wonderful memories.

Take, for instance, Rogan Josh, successful in the 1999 Melbourne Cup.
"I made a deal with myself that if the horse won the Cup I would name my baby boy after Rogan Josh," one lady told Professor Andrew Clarke, who related this as one of many anecdotes surrounding Living Legends.

Like hundred of others she wanted to get up close and personal with her favourite horse at Woodlands, the historic Victorian property that now provides a retirement home named Living Legends for many of Australia's best.

"Only in Australia would a mother name a baby after a horse," Clarke said. "Only in Australia would the horse have to win before the boy was given the name. Only in Australia would the mother bring the boy to have a photo taken and explain, 'Here is the horse you were named after'."
Living Legends, the outfit just out of Melbourne near Tullamarine, celebrated its first birthday last Wednesday. Clarke is the CEO, veterinary director and dish-washing team member. Over the past 12 months, he has become attached to the great names of the Australian turf. Once you couldn't find a category as redundant as a has-been nag, even the top-liners. However, Clarke confirmed, even after their racing days they have much to offer.

Read more over three pages.

EI detected on northern NSW property

November 5, 2007 - 7:50PM

Equine influenza (EI) has been detected on a property in northern NSW, prompting its lockdown.

NSW deputy chief veterinary officer Ian Roth said several horses on one property just south of Walcha had the virus.

Investigations had started into the source of the infection, which had most likely been transferred by human contact, he said.

He said planning was now underway to start vaccinating horses in a buffer zone around the property in a bid to stop the virus spreading.

"The property was placed in quarantine and samples taken from horses last week after clinical signs of EI developed," he said in a statement tonight.
"EI infection was confirmed yesterday.

"A ten-kilometre restricted area, or red zone, has been placed around the property to further tighten movement restrictions and biosecurity requirements."

Meanwhile, horse owners whose animals are due for a second vaccination are being reminded they will be contacted about the shot by their local vaccination centre.

Mr Roth has asked owners to wait until they are contacted rather than calling themselves.

He said it could be up to six weeks between EI shots.

Racing chiefs, minister at odds over horse flu

THE Australian Racing Board and the Federal Government are at loggerheads over Australia's quarantine standards and their role in the outbreak of equine influenza.

The board accused the former agriculture minister, Warren Truss, of twice fobbing off its concerns that relaxed quarantine standards could lead to an outbreak, even issuing a written guarantee that "it could not happen".

Mr Truss rejected the criticism and accused the board of being hypocritical. He said that it had asked him in 2001 to overturn a ban on importing horses from Britain during an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and on two other occasions been involved in requests to speed up quarantine procedures.

Read more.

SPOILT SPORTS IN THE HORSE WORLD

I am absolutely disgusted at the amount of people who have divided the Australian horse world.

Anyone trying to help boycott the Melbourne cup betting should be ashamed of themselves.

I have read comments about non racing people hating the racing industry, I have finally realised now how selfish some Australians really are. I am a riding instructor and dressage enthusiast. My dad is a NSW Race horse trainer. I am also a stable hand and strapper for him..........There is a lot of us who are on both sides of the fence with this so I can't understand why people are blaming the racing industry.

I missed the NSW state dressage champs this year, I had been waiting for that opportunity for a long time and another local horse trainer here in Mudgee missed out on taking his Group One winning horse to Melbourne for what i would say one of the biggest opportunities of that trainers life.

No one can be blamed for this unfortunate turn of events except were the EI originated.
Do you all forget that it was not an Australian race horse that began the spread of EI.
Do people realise that the racing industry is one of Australia’s biggest employment industries.
I also believe that the government has done a fantastic job with its vaccination programs, as this is a first for Australia.

Unfortunately trial and error is the only way to go about it this time.

EFA members are now being vaccinated and as more vaccines become available people will be able to vaccinate if they have to, whether your a race horse, ponyclubber or a donkey.

I have heard comments that EFA membership etc is too expensive but so is owning any horse.
I know that I have got my $200 worth by being an EFA member, they have kept us informed, helped organise the vaccination of EFA registered horses and they are being fantastic with helping people out financially that need it.

Not a lot of other horse associations are doing this let me tell you I am a member of them all.

GO RACING NSW, GO THE EFA AND I BET ALL OF YOU TRYING TO BOYCOTT MELBOURNE CUP DAY
CAN'T HELP BUT watch the race THAT STOPS A NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yasmin