Fingers crossed: purple zone could be gone in six weeks

SYDNEY – The NSW DPI is definitely aiming for the purple zone to be scaled back to green by mid-March.

A spokesman from Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald’s office confirmed in a teleconference with the Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA) that a mid-March deadline was being targeted.

“It is our aim that mid to late March, the current purple zone will turn green,” he said at the teleconference.

“If this happens the present rules for the green zone will apply – a Travelling Horse Statement (THS), but no requirement for proof of immunity,” Quinlan said.

“It is our recommendation that horses that wish to compete in the new green zone until the end of April, be vaccinated. Naïve horses cannot enter in the current purple zone.”

He told the teleconference that the NSW DPI would approve of third vaccines in March on a user-pays basis for anyone who asked.

If horses from the green zone wish to enter the current purple zone they will need proof of immunity – but if the purple zone turns to green, that requirement will not be necessary.

Asked if there was another outbreak what would the status of recovered horses in that area be and what movement restrictions would be imposed, Quinlan said a restricted area of 10kms around the infected property would be declared with movement subject to risk assessment.

Asked what tests would be required for recovered horses, Quinlan said: “Elisa (the blood test to show positive antibodies, indicating that the horse has had EI and is recovered from it and has immunity) would be sufficient for most movements. Some – especially from high risk areas may also require a PCR (the nasal swab test that shows current infection and the amount of virus being shed by the horse)”.

Quinlan also said that protocols for movements in amber were being reviewed.

It is a requirement from 4 February that any horses moving in the purple zone must have proof of immunity.

It should also be noted that in some instances, rules for thoroughbred racehorses and rules for other horses are slightly different - visit the NSW DPI website for more information.