Horse movement restrictions to be eased in February

Horse industries battling against the Equine Influenza (EI) epidemic will enter a crucial stage of recovery when new arrangements currently under consideration take effect to ease horse
movement restrictions, Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Hugh Millar announced today.
“This could be as early as 1 February 2008 if all goes to plan,” Dr Millar said.
“Strong evidence shows the disease is close to eradication in NSW and Queensland and with no
new EI cases reported since 21 December 2007, the epidemic could be over by mid March.”
Dr Millar said as part of the national arrangements expected to be introduced next month, current movement restrictions will be eased to facilitate horse movements between disease-free ‘Green Zones’ in EI affected States and Victoria.
“The new measures are an important step in assisting horse industries to make a swift recovery and we expect the new arrangements will have a massive impact on many horse owners,” Dr Millar said.
He said surveillance measures will continue and horses moving to Victoria from restricted areas will continue to be subject to strict importation and isolation arrangements.
Movement of horses from NSW and Queensland into Victoria is still banned without a permit
supplied by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
“In consultation with Racing Victoria, we have determined biosecurity measures at race meetings can also now be eased,” Dr Millar said.
“Recreational horse groups can now resume events confident that the disease has been kept out of Victoria.
“Keeping Victoria free of EI is still our priority and we will not take any actions to put our
healthy horses under threat.
“Horse owners have made costly sacrifices over the past five months and have worked closely
with the DPI to keep the disease out of Victoria.
“Our eradication and containment strategies appear to be doing the job, but we need to remember a small element of risk remains until the disease is completely and demonstrably gone from the affected areas of NSW and Queensland.”