NSW 91% EI-Free White Zone

Meanwhile the NSW Department Of Primary Industries announced NSW is "one step closer to the goal of being free of equine influenza by the end of March, with the Red & Amber Zones further cut & interstate horse movement restrictions eased". NSW chief veterinary officer Bruce Christie noted: "This significant step means thousands of horses locked down since August 25, or unable to move interstate, can begin moving again. And horses within the new White Zone can now be moved over state borders more easily, following the down-grading of the Green Zone infection risk to the same level as interstate EI-free areas. With no new EI infections detected this year & only 4 infected properties remaining in NSW, widespread testing is continuing to prove we haven't missed anything & that we are approaching freedom." Christie added the risks "in some Amber Zone areas in the State's north-west, northern tablelands & lower north coast have been downgraded & those areas moved into the new White Zone; in addition, the degree of risk in previous Red Zones at Armidale & Grenfell has been scaled back to Amber following confirmation that horse flu has burnt out in these areas. A total of 91% of NSW is now in the White Zone, the Amber Zone has been reduced from 9% of the State to just 4% & Red Zone has been cut to less than 2%."