US horses test positive for EI in NZ

Ten horses imported into New Zealand from the United States have tested positive for equine influenza, biosecurity officials say.

The quarantine site in Karaka, in New Zealand's North Island, has been "locked down".
No horses are allowed to leave or enter the site and no visitors are allowed.
The test results put at risk New Zealand's place as the only significant horse-racing nation free of equine flu, and raises the spectre of multi-million dollar costs for the nation's racing and sport horse sectors.
Biosecurity New Zealand says it is retesting samples taken from horses imported directly from the United States to the Karaka quarantine "due to conflicting test results".
The horses were imported from the United States on March 23 after testing negative for the disease - but they tested positive on arrival in New Zealand.
All the horses appear healthy and are not showing any symptoms of disease, according to Biosecurity NZ, which is an arm of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
"There is a strong indication that cross-contamination in the laboratory was the reason for the positive results," a ministry spokesman, import standards group manager, Clive Gower-Collins, said.
"The laboratory will be conducting further tests over the weekend to confirm that this is so.
"Further investigations will also be made to ascertain how the tests in New Zealand became contaminated".
Import standards require horses to undergo 21 days quarantine before departure for New Zealand, including testing and vaccination, and a further 14 days in post-arrival quarantine in New Zealand, where they undergo further testing.
The horses have been in quarantine since their arrival from the United States in a secure facility, which Mr Gower-Collins said meant there was "no risk" to the New Zealand horse population.
"The New Zealand horse population is not at risk as any virus would be contained within the Karaka quarantine facility and allowed to run its course.
New Zealand Racing Board chief executive, Graeme Hansen, said: "We are pleased that MAF have moved quickly and taken every precaution in the protection of our industry".