Fewer horse flu cases prompts review

QUEENSLAND Racing believes the state could be free of equine influenza by May, based on a steady decline in the number of properties infected.

Horse flu shut down the Queensland racing industry on August 25 and, at its peak in mid-November, the number of infected premises in the state's southeast reached almost 2200.
Queensland Racing Ltd chief operations manager Malcolm Tuttle yesterday said the number of infected properties had plummeted to the "low 500s".
"It's due to a combination of the use of vaccination and fines for breaching movement and biosecurity protocols," Mr Tuttle said. "It is not beyond possibility that the entire state could be classified as a (EI-free) green zone some time during May. That's all based on current trends continuing."
Mr Tuttle said he was also buoyed by news that planned changes to zoning for EI could occur a month early.
Queensland racing industry representatives and the Department of Primary Industries met yesterday to discuss zoning due to the rapid decrease in infected properties.
Mr Tuttle said the southeast's amber zone could be regraded green and its red as amber within weeks.
Meanwhile, the Queensland Government is offering free blood testing and microchipping for eligible horses in the EI red zone. Treasurer and Acting DPI Minister Andrew Fraser said the $600,000 scheme was part of the State Government's $20 million commitment to help the horse industry recover from the outbreak.
Free microchipping and blood testing will be provided to business operators or competition horse owners in the red zone who require proof of their horses' immunity status.
"When the lab results are available, the vet will issue the owner with an equine influenza serology and microchip certificate for each horse sampled," Mr Fraser said.