Victoria gets all-clear over equine influenza

VICTORIAN thoroughbred racing is free of equine influenza restrictions from this morning, ending almost five months of bio-security measures.

Racing Victoria chief executive Stephen Allanson last night said that, after a meeting with the Department of Primary Industries, all bio-security measures that had restricted access for unlicensed persons to race stables, trackwork sessions and other racetrack areas were lifted immediately.
"It's business as usual in Victoria," he said. "All bio-security measures will be pulled down."
Equine influenza was not detected in Victoria but after the initial outbreak at the Eastern Creek quarantine centre in NSW in late August, Victorian racing has been in lockdown. Access to thoroughbreds was restricted to approved licensed persons, meaning owners have not been able to visit their horses or trainers at their stables or get close to them on raceday.
Entry into Victoria for interstate horses had been limited. Restricted access for NSW and Queensland horses permitted only since mid-December. No horse from those states could enter Victoria for the spring carnival.
Allanson said the lifting of bans meant interstate owners would not have to go through any bio-security measures and the onus would be on licensed interstate visitors to disinfect themselves before entering Victoria. Licensed people from NSW and Queensland could not enter a Victorian racecourse without some period of time spent away from their horses.
It is expected the department later this week will relax border controls, meaning horses from NSW in the designated green zone can cross into Victoria with an approved DPI permit.
About 80 per cent of NSW is now regarded as being "green", meaning areas that pose no threat of spreading the disease.