Australia Flu Inquiry: Groom Says Officials Not Concerned by Sick Horse

by: Ric Chapman
November 26 2007, Article # 10873

The outbreak of equine influenza in Australia came about from an apparent lack of concern about horses with elevated temperatures and poor record keeping, according to a groom who worked at the Eastern Creek quarantine facility. The cost of the influenza outbreak in New South Wales and Queensland is estimated to be about Aus$3.94 million a day, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
The spread of influenza out of Eastern Creek has been attributed by Australian officials to people not following disinfection guidelines.
Coolmore groom James Carey told an inquiry headed by Retired High Court Judge Ian Callinan that at 7 a.m. on the morning the Coolmore stallions had arrived at Eastern Creek, Encosta de Lago (the index case) had "an elevated temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius (101.5 F), a slight cough, and a nasal discharge."
However, Carey explained, he'd had no experience with equine influenza in Ireland (where horses are vaccinated against the virus) and did not consider it as a potential cause of Encosta de Lago's illness.
Over the next few days, the horses in the immediate vicinity of the affected horses started showing similar clinical signs, according to Carey.
He said temperatures of all horses at Eastern Creek were routinely taken twice a day and recorded in a diary, as well as in chalk on the outside of each stallion's stable door, but he saw no evidence of Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service staff taking interest in the temperature records until the outbreak occurred.
Carey also said a log book grooms were supposed to sign every time they left and re-entered the quarantine station was not always used because it could not be located.
Carey explained: "The book that was supposed to be used for the grooms to sign in and out was kept in the common area of the grooms' quarter. There were 15 guys sharing the common room and the book might sometimes be near a cooking pot, then might be under six magazines, and you might not see it for days."
The independent inquiry conducted by Callinan began Nov. 13 and is expected to include testimony from more than 100 witnesses.
For more information on the inquiry see www.TheHorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10837.
(Originally published at BloodHorse.com.)

Horse Movement Protocols Approved

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) has received confirmation of the horse movement protocols that will need to be adhered to in order for New South Wales and Queensland horses to compete at the 2008 Watpac Inter Dominion and 2008 Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup Carnivals.
Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Dr Hugh Millar informed HRV that the relevant state and national authorities have officially approved the proposed protocols. Under the protocols, elite horses from New South Wales and Queensland will be required to spend seven days in quarantine in their home state and a period of between seven and 14 days quarantine in Victoria in order to be able to race in Victoria.
HRV is now proceeding with its plan to establish temporary quarantine stations at Harold Park in Sydney, Rocklea in Queensland and Geelong in Victoria.
Horses from New South Wales and Queensland will enter quarantine in their home state on Thursday, December 27, 2007.
They will be kept in quarantine in their home state for seven days before being transported to Geelong on Thursday, January 3where they will be quarantined for a period of least seven days and up to 14 days.
“All going well, we are hopeful of having the Queensland and New South Wales horses out of quarantine and free to race in Victoria by Saturday, January 12,” HRV chief executive John Anderson said.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has advised that horses will be released out of quarantine after seven days providing the quarantine process is a smooth one and that all horses are fit and healthy and showing no signs of illness.
The DPI has, however, reserved the right to retain the horses in quarantine for up to 14 days in Victoria if any problems are encountered to satisfy it that the vaccinated and recovered horses do not pose an Equine Influenza (EI) risk to the Victorian horse population.
Anderson said the announcement was a major development for the success of the two premier events.
“It is fantastic news for both the Watpac Inter Dominion and the Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup Carnivals that the top interstate horses will be allowed to compete and we can now press ahead with some degree of certainty in our planning,” Mr Anderson said.
There are already 14 horses confirmed to be entering quarantine with the intention of competing at either the Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup or Watpac ID08 Carnivals.
Joining defending Inter Dominion champion Blacks A Fake will be fellow Queenslanders Be Good Johnny, Slipnslide, Atomic Ark, Good Lookin Girl, Maximillion and Maybe Hall, while from New South Wales Divisive, Flightpath, Amorts, Iron Realm, Just Pretend, Boom Boom Becker and Em Maguane are heading south.

Re Mr Anthony Cummings statements 17/12/07

Mr Anthony Cummings spoke about the continued strangulation on the thoroughbred racing and being held to ransom yeah right . Well I for one find that hard to believe when you look at the racing NSW site there are 26 race meeting set down between 21st and 31st of this month and to be held all over NSW. Some trainers might have other horses they want back in work but after all they must still have plenty of horses in work for these race meetings to be programmed .
I don't think it wouldn't hurt the 20% upper class racehorse people and the DPI who after all are only worried about getting the racehorses moving all around the country allowing the government to make money from TAB turn over Let them all spare a thought for the 80% lower class non race horse people referred to as pleasure horse people, you know the ones I mean
The ones that are caught up in all the crap and movement restrictions the DPI has placed on them through no fault of their own after all it was a thoroughbred that bought EI into Australia and all other horse people are paying the penalty for it . It's the pleasure horse people being held to ransom by the DPI not the racehorses after all they can move around and do pretty well what ever they want even take the yearlings into VIC for the sales
While use second class pleasure horses aren't allowed out of the front gate even if they have had both vaccination shots.
And if anyone tries tell you you there isn't two sets of rules being one for the upper class racehorses and one for the lower class pleasure horse people you should ask what planet they come from.
You know the owners of the 20% made up of racehorses in a strangulation hold ,should think them self lucky because the other 80% of us are being held by the balls and it is hurting us more than the racing world . I hope racehorse owners and trainers have a nice xmas tripping around the country side making heaps of money Also a merry xmas and all the best for new year to the rest of us that can only dream about what we would like to be doing with our horses
Chris Jones

Family demands answers over horse flu vaccination death

A Wombarra family says it is still seeking answers from the Department of Primary Industries over the death of a horse on its property, on the New South Wales south coast, after it received the horse flu vaccine.
John and Sue Watson says the first round of the vaccination of their horses four weeks ago resulted in the death of their pet pony, Will.
The department then turned up to their property yesterday escorted by police to administer booster shots, only to be locked out.
Sue Watson says they are seeking answers from the department about its procedures.
"We have 14 agistors on our property and not one of the agistors was asked to back us up, every single one of them just came and said, 'we don't want our horse to suffer the same death as your pony, we saw what happened, we want answers before we let them come on again'," she said.

Tamworth Show cancels horse events

Concerns about equine influenza have caused the Tamworth P and A to cancel horse events at next year's show.
The show committee had put off making the decision until the Sydney Show revealed its plans, and last night the committee decided it would not be practical.
Show president John Rodd says it will have a major impact on the show, but last night there was a variety of suggestions to keep the ring alive.
"Some of them [the suggestions] are almost too funny to mention," he said.
"One of the popular events lately, with competitors especially, is since they have got their horses away, is actually cattle dog trials, sheep dog trials, a lot of things to do with dogs.
"We were thinking of having a pet dog gym, camel races.
"We are probably having two days of wood chop this year rather than just the one, there was quite a range of ideas."

PIRSA Thanks Horse Deals

Thanks to you and the members of your team to date in response to the horse flu outbreak…not just in SA but nationally.
Having a resource such as yours that is not only genuinely interested in the issue and staff who actually understand horse owners and various horse industries has made it much easier to get the message out there about what's happening in SA.
I hope you will all have time to raise a glass during the 'silly season' to look back and acknowledge your fabulous efforts since August 2007.

Thank you.
PIRSA

Pittsworth Show Qld forging ahead

The Pittsworth Show Society have there Show Schedule on their website they are planning on having all the normal horse events at the March 2008 Show.
Due to Permit Applications etc Nomination's will close on the 8th February 2008.
Closed nominations in all horse events must be to the Secretary
by 8th February 2008, forward to
P O Box 6 Pittsworth together with entry fee.
A DPI permit for horse movement must be obtained prior to nominating
and a copy of this permit must accompany the nomination form.
Download the scheduled and nomination form

Champion of Champions Show going ahead!

Wonderful news for the South Australian Show Fraternity, the Champion of Champions Show is going ahead on the Australia Day weekend at the Mount Pleasant Showgrounds. A PIRSA permit has been approved and competitors will need to read and follow the PIRSA guidelines completely.
For further information phone 08 8388 3885.

Different Flu Strain?

I have heard reports alleging that a variant strain of Equine flu has been identified in two separate locations - quite widely separated - in the Purple Zone (Central Coast area). I have been reading the information provided by the DPI etc, but have seen no mention of this on the site. There appears to have been no action on the part of the authorities to quarantine the properties/horses supposedly affected.

Can anyone provide any information as to whether there is now a new strain of EI occurring, different to the one introduced originally via Eastern Creek? Or whether they have heard the same rumour?

Hopefully it will turn out to be the same disease, or a lab mistake - but feeling a bit anxious about the apparent lack (or suppression) of information.

If, indeed, a variant strain has emerged, we are back to square one.

K

Central Coast