NSW may stamp out horse flu by March: Govt

The New South Wales Government says the state could be clear of equine influenza three months earlier than expected.

More than 5,000 properties were affected at the height of the outbreak and many sectors of the horse industry lost millions of dollars.
Acting Primary Industries Minister Verity Firth says the last horse that tested positive for the virus was diagnosed in late December.
Ms Firth says the eradication of the disease across the state depends on there being no new cases of the virus within the next few months.
"Fingers crossed [that] by mid-March, NSW will be able to be declared a green zone, which means no more equine influenza" she said.
"Having said that, a period of time after March will need to pass where there are no new infections in order to ensure that equine influenza has been eradicated once and for all."
She says maintaining vigilance is still important.
"This is definitely still no time for complacency," she said.
"Good biosecurity, reporting of suspect horses and of course, continued sensible movement of animals is now more crucial than ever.
"One undiagnosed, sick horse could bring down the house of cards."