Federal govt says EI outbreak contained

The equine influenza (EI) outbreak that devastated the horse racing industry is currently contained, the nation's chief veterinary officer says.
Dr Andy Carroll, from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, said a large number of government officials were frequenting the infected areas of Queensland and NSW.They have determined the virus is contained and unlikely to return.
"We have a large number of already immune horses because they've had the disease or they've been vaccinated," Mr Carroll told ABC television.
"We also are quite conservative before moving an area or a property from infected to clean.
"We take a conservative stance and we don't see a large risk of areas reverting back."
An inquiry into the outbreak, that began in August last year, is being conducted by retired High Court judge Ian Callinan.
Mr Callinan is expected to hand down his findings before April 25.
The first case of EI in Australia was detected at Sydney's Eastern Creek quarantine facility on August 23 in a thoroughbred stallion which had travelled from the northern hemisphere and was awaiting release.
The outbreak, which brought horse racing to a halt in NSW and Queensland, is estimated to have cost the industry more than $500 million.