QLD DPI

14 November AM: There are 2187 Infected Properties (IPs) in Queensland. 40 new IPs have been registered since yesterday. A further 31 properties have been reclassified to the status of R (Resolved). A property's R status means that its horses are no longer shedding the virus. Please maintain decontamination procedures and remain vigilant.

Equine influenza daily update - 14 November 2007

Callinan Inquiry

The long anticipated public hearings started yesterday with Dr James Gilkerson, a veterinarian specialising in horse diseases, who is assisting the Inquiry. Dr Gilkerson spent about a week at the State Disease Control Headquarters helping to set up the vaccination program. His evidence has been widely reported in the press, describing the Quarantine procedures as “inadequate”.

Full transcripts of the Inquiry are available daily at: http://www.equineinfluenzainquiry.gov.au/

Movements out of the purple zone

Media reports describing that Kembla Grange racecourse would be added to the purple zone are incorrect. There are plans to allow movement of racehorses from Kembla to Randwick for racing but their movement back to Kembla would be dependent on them doing 2 weeks in quarantine.
Similar conditions are being developed for competitions and sales in the purple zone. Meetings with RAS, Ag Shows, EFA, Quarter horses, Arabs, Stockhorses, ABCRA, Endurance, Pony Clubs this week are clarifying what events can be held and under what conditions. The conditions for movement will need approval by the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD). The conditions will be detailed as soon as they are approved.

Movement of imported horses out of Eastern Creek

There have been changes made in the policy regarding the movement of imported horses out of the quarantine centre at Eastern Creek. At this time, imported horses may be moved from Eastern Creek Quarantine Station to any premises within a purple zone. They are not permitted to move to an Amber zone, a vaccination buffer zone or a green zone.

Read more.

Aust hopes to be free of EI virus by mid-2008

News from the eastern states indicates the equine influenza outbreak is still being contained and, if biosecurity measures continue to be observed, Australia is likely to be free of the virus by mid-2008.

Primary Industries & Resources South Australia's chief veterinary officer, Rob Rahaley, made the announcement at a meeting of professional and recreational riders, hosted by Horse SA at Morphettville.

read the full report

SOURCE: Breaking news from the Stock Journal, SA, November 15. By Julie Paul 14th November 2007.

Equine Influenza Human Impacts Survey

Jenny Amadio, Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Equine Influenza Human Impacts Survey

Equine Influenza (EI) came unannounced into Australia 3 months ago. In that short time it has caused significant disruption to the normal horse industry activities of spring, and this is likely to continue to some degree through the coming summer into 2008. The aim is to have the disease eradicated from Australia before mid 2008.

As a result many livelihoods and activities have been turned upside down. The economic costs will be inestimable, and the human cost hidden and difficult to quantify.

To assist the horse industry to calculate an idea of the effects of disruption caused by the EI emergency, the University of Western Sydney has put together a survey to enable horse industry participants to provide data about their experiences during the past 3 months.

You can access the survey at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=XHWoJwNHnPExBCj0sdt1iA_3d_3d

AHIC urges you to participate and provide data for analysis. The survey is anonymous and the results will be used to inform industry and government about the flow on effects of an emergency disease outbreak in Australia. There have been similar studies in other countries, and results from this study will enable some comparisons with those other studies.

Contact details of the researchers are provided, and I urge you to contact them directly if you have any questions or need clarification.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Barry Smyth
President
Australian Horse Industry Council

All for one?

Well is't it great that waterhouse and co can race again? I still cannot come to grips with the barrier that has been erected by the NSW state Govt between the Racing Industry and Everyone Else. Landline's report on Sunday showed how divided we have become but how can we 'Others' just stand back and say nothing when racing is allowed to go on all around us and we cannot even take our horses for a ride or go for a lesson!

Talk about blaitent discrimination! Either we all observe strict EI control or we all have freedom. What is to stop a race goer from an infected zone passing EI on via contact with a race goer or directly contacting a race horse? A couple of meters of coloured tape will not stop infection. But a good scrub will. WE are as capable of excellent biosecurity as the guys in racing. I'm fed up with only hearing about how marvellous it is that we are beating EI and that racing is off and running.

Come on NSW DPI, keep us more up to date and Please stop telling us how good it is! Your beginning to sound like Johnny H.
Penny.

A free weekend of Thoroughbred race meetings

Please find attached a letter from Stephen Allanson (Chief Executive Officer of Racing Victoria Limited) inviting your membership base to participate in a free weekend of thoroughbred race meetings on 24 & 25 November as a measure of the racing industry’s appreciation for the contribution your members have made to help keep Victoria equine influenza free.

As you’ll see, the invitation directs your members to call RVL’s Customer Call Centre on 1300 139 401 by 4.00pm Tuesday 20 November if they wish to take up the offer of free entry and a complimentary refreshment voucher. ***Click to enlarge the letter***

DPI&F brumby cull extends to pleasure horses

14/11/07

A Darling Downs woman, who appealed to the DPI&F for a travel permit to move her horse 15 minutes down the road due to financial hardship, was knocked back and told the gelding may have to die for the greater good of the community.

The mother-of-two yesterday appealed to the DPI&F that if her horse could not be moved she could not afford to pay agistment and therefore the horse would have to be euthanased.

"The call centre told me that if one or two perfectly healthy horses had to die to protect thousands of others, then that was okay," said Tanya Targett, 32, of Pittsworth.

"I was told the DPI&F would not issue permits on financial grounds, even though financial grounds become welfare grounds due to the fact that if you can't pay your bill, horses don't get fed. All I wanted to do was move one vaccinated horse, 15 minutes down the road, within the same red zone, to a property with other vaccinated horses.

"But what's the death of one more perfectly healthy horse when the DPI&F already have 10,000 brumbies firmly in their scope?"

Ms Targett, a journalist, told the DPI&F that their sanctioned execution of the horse would be televised and that she would call a press conference to highlight the plight of the chestnut gelding, and thousands of others like him locked down around the State.

"Then late last night, the DPI&F said they would reluctantly issue a permit providing I took full responsibility in the event that the move should cause EI to spread further into the community," Ms Targett said. "I mean, EI escaped Federal Government quarantine, but I'm to sign a statutory declaration 'to take full responsibility for any consequences that may arise as a result of the movement' of my horse.

"Meanwhile, the racing facility where the horse is currently housed yesterday obtained a multi-movement horse permit, to move as many horses as they liked, without having to sign a statutory declaration or even having to name the horses to be moved.

"This is double standards and the buck stops with Ministers Mulherrin and McGauran. The DPI&F need to get off their backsides and bring equity to the industry. There should not be one rule for the racing sector and another rule for the rest."

Ms Targett said if EI did spread it would not be as a result of the thousands of pleasure and performance horses currently locked down around South-East Queensland.

"Race horses have already started moving and the DPI&F have told me personally that they can not guarantee that EI will not spread as a result," said Ms Targett, who is the media advisor to the Queensland Performance & Pleasure Horse industry group.

"Vaccination does not protect a horse against contracting EI, therefore, if one horse moves all horses should move; otherwise we should all be in lockdown."

Interviews: Tanya Targett 0410 494 849

Qld EI clusters as of 12th November

Qld Policy on red zone horse movements in the path of a bush fire

Equine influenza (EI) is a highly contagious viral disease of all equine species (including horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and zebras). Most susceptible animals will show signs of the disease but will recover completely within a few weeks.

The maximum incubation period is 5 days and horses are infective for 14 days. Most shedding of virus occurs in the early stages of disease when coughing is most pronounced

Transmission of EI to humans under natural conditions of exposure has not occurred during outbreaks of EI in horses. However, the virus can survive on skin, fabrics and the surface of contaminated equipment. Contaminated horse transport vehicles, equipment, grooms, and people who have close contact with horses are all important in transmitting infection between places.

The EI virus is relatively fragile and is killed by exposure to sunlight for 30 minutes. It is also susceptible to soaps, detergents, and Dettol which are suitable for personal disinfection.

Horses in the path of a bush fire

Owners of horses are advised to have an evacuation plan in place in case of bush fires. If this involves movement to another property the horse owner will need to consider if it is infected with equine influenza before moving.

1.If sufficient time is available to obtain a movement permit

Obtain a movement permit to move a horse from a property to another place in the red zone, phone the Queensland DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.

2.If insufficient time is available to obtain a movement permit

The welfare of the horse is the primary consideration. However, it is also imperative that the horse owner give consideration to the possibility of spreading equine influenza by their movement and the possibility of exposing their horses to equine influenza through the movement. Movement should result in the ultimate destination being within the red zone and not in the vaccination buffer zone.

After the movement is completed, details of this movement must be reported to Queensland DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23 within 24 hours.

A movement permit will be required for further movements.

NSW Recent vs older cases

Epidemiology is the study of the patterns of diseases in populations.

NSW DPI epidemiologists are monitoring the equine influenza outbreak closely and using the information collected to report the situation and make predictions. Some of their findings are shown in the maps and graphs below.

This section will be updated weekly with the latest information.
Recent vs older cases

The graph below shows the changing numbers of recent and older cases over time, as well as the number of infected premises that have been resolved.

* Recent cases (red bars) are ones which have been reported as infected within the last 21 days and are likely to still be actively infected.
* Older cases (blue bars) are ones that have been infected for more than 21 days.
* Resolved cases (green bars) are ones that have been assessed and are no longer considered to be infected

As can be seen, the number of recent cases reached a peak in late September, started to decline from about the second week of October and is now about 1,000 cases state-wide. Numbers of older cases has increased progressively since late September. Increasing numbers of cases have now been resolved, with work progressing to actively resolve cases, particularly in outlying areas and clusters. The total number of cases is starting to level off at around 5,500 to 6,000 as the number of recently reported IPs declines.

NSW Estimated dissemination rate

The estimated dissemination rate (EDR) for a disease is the average number of new cases generated by each existing case. An EDR of greater than 1 indicates that the disease will continue to spread and the epidemic will continue. Conversely, an EDR of less than 1 means that the epidemic will gradually die out. The graph below shows that the EDR for horse flu has progressively declined since about mid September and has been below 1 for most of the time since early October. The dotted lines show the 95% confidence limits for the estimate. The slight ups and downs of the EDR over time are probably due to variations in reporting over time. Although the EDR estimates are probably affected by some under-reporting, the graph provides strong encouragement that the disease is under control and eradication is achievable.

NSW New infected premises week of 3rd to 10th November

There have been a total of 85 newly infected premises were identified during the last week, compared to 255 last week. The distribution of new infected premises is shown on the map below. The great majority of new cases have been in the purple zone, with additional cases in clusters at Narrabri, Gunnedah, Dubbo and Parkes/Forbes. New outlying cases were also identified at Walcha and Wee Waa. An area of red zone at Pallamallawa (near Moree) has progressed to Amber following resolution of all infected and suspect premises in this area.

UNVACCINATED HORSES NEEDED

If you are in the buffer zone south of Syndey (see DPI site)and you have horses that are not vaccinated yet or are due for their second vaccination can you please contact 4872 4706 URGENTLY.

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/influenza

SA Showjumping forges ahead

The Mount Gambier Showjumping Club is forging ahead this season. International Course builder John Wilsher is the driving force behind the first Showjumping event for this season and through wads of paperwork and protocol the Club has approval for it's first event since the outbreak of EI in Australia.
PIRSA has approved the event to be held on Sunday the 2nd December at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds, the permit allows for a maximum of 50 horses in total and South Australian horses only. Strict Bio-security protocols will be in place from footbaths at the gate and pre-entry ONLY with no spectators (strappers, family etc will have to be named on official entry forms which will also be checked at the gate).
John Wilsher has recently been involved in course building at the Tonimbuk in Victoria
and is looking forward to getting Show jumping back on track in South Australia. A full program of 7 height classes will allow competitors to compete several horses and the club has already received calls from interested competitors with one rider wishing to bring 9 horses! With numbers already filling quickly all enquiries can be made to John on 08 8725 6414, 0418 838 673, email john@johnwilsher.com


The Club is also hopeful that with the changes to Permit systems in South Australia for early 2008 will allow for the Junior Championships and renowned Easter Showjumping Carnival to go ahead.

End is nigh for equine influenza

BRISBANE'S leading trainer Robert Heathcote couldn't contain his excitement when a horse float entered his Hendra yard yesterday.

The horse movement signifies a start to the end of the equine influenza nightmare which has crippled the industry.

Heathcote was first to appreciate Queensland Racing Ltd's September 24 announcement that the flu had spread to southeast Queensland.
Just a day later She's Rocking was the first in his stable to show symptoms.
"The virus had travelled from Sydney to Brisbane, there was no doubt all horses were going to be infected in Brisbane," Heathcote said.

He received criticism for subsequently infecting the rest of his stable with the flu.

"I'm a realist, the sooner they got it, the quicker they would build a natural immunity, which is better than inoculation, and racing could get back to normal," he said.

QRL yesterday continued processing applications for horse movements in the red zone of southeast Queensland.

Read more.

Vet raised flu fears in 2003

FOUR years before the outbreak of horse flu in Australia a senior quarantine vet warned that truck drivers and others handling horses arriving at Sydney Airport needed to take precautions against spreading disease.

The Callinan inquiry was told that the virus, which first appeared at Eastern Creek Quarantine Station on August 17, had probably been spread by a truck driver, groom, veterinary officer or AQIS officer who had been in contact with horses.

In a 2003 memo, Phil Widders, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service's chief veterinary officer for NSW, recommended that people handling horses at the airport take measures such as wearing overalls, showering and changing clothes.

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Tony Meagher, SC, put to Jennifer Gordon, executive manager of AQIS, that Dr Widders had written this in late 2003. In June 2004 the regional manager for NSW, at her request, had sent her a copy of Dr Widders's notes.

Read more.

Disease control poor, horse flu inquiry told

The government-run Eastern Creek quarantine station was not subject to the same strict risk-management procedures as a private centre at Sandown in Melbourne until the outbreak of equine influenza in August.

Read more.

Quarantine official raised EI concerns, inquiry hears

The Callinan inquiry into the horse flu outbreak in Australia has heard evidence that a senior quarantine official raised concerns three years ago about health risks from the importation of horses.

The inquiry has this afternoon been shown evidence from a senior Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) official responsible for live animal imports in NSW, expressing concern over the service's policies.

The 2004 email from Dr Phillip Widders suggested that AQIS change its procedures to require people who come into contact with horses at the airport to change and shower immediately afterwards.

Read more. You will also find a vidio and audio report on this page.

Veterinarian fronts horse flu inquiry

The inquiry into equine influenza has heard evidence from its first witness - a specialist in the disease. Dr James Gilkerson has explained how he believes the virus entered Australia, then quickly spread throughout the general horse population. He's also raised concerns about whether Australia's quarrantine procedures are adequate.

Follow the link below to listen to the report, it is near the bottom of the page.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/

Horse flu hearing begins in Sydney

A leading expert on horse flu has told an inquiry that the spread of the virus could have been checked with nothing more than soap and warm water. Dr James Gilkerson, from the Equine Infectious Diseases Unit at the University of Melbourne, told the inquiry that if Australia's quarantine procedures had been adequate, the disease would not have entered the country.

Follow the link below to listen to another report later in the day.

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/

EI Inquiry

Click here to read the transcipts.

QLD EFA - Equine Influenza - Green Zone critical for successful eradication

Qld Chief Vet's Horse Flu column - 13 Nov 2007 -
If we are to succeed in eradicating equine influenza (EI) it is critical that the Green Zone remains free of infection.

This is very important in the lead up to Christmas when we may be relaxing some movement restrictions in the Red Zone.

The rate of infection in the Red Zone continues to fall, but we cannot be complacent - all horse owners in all parts of Queensland need to do the right thing.

DPI&F is urging all horse owners in the Green Zone to register the location of their horses, complete waybills if moving a horse, plan appropriate biosecurity for equestrian events and report any sick horses.

Read more.