Tuesday, 28 August 2007

EQUINE INFLUENZA

Attached for your information please find a copy of “Notice of Order Declaring a Control Area for Equine Influenza” (EI) made by the Minster for Agriculture, Joe Helper on 25 August 2007.

The order outlines the restrictions imposed on horses (susceptible stock) and the powers to require testing, etc.

Comments by Bill Sykes

• The standstill on the movements of stock susceptible to EI is an essential disease control measure and was something which I played a role in developing following my experience with Foot & Mouth Disease in the UK in 2001.
   
• I have reservations about lifting of this order on Friday if the known manner of spread of the EI in Australia is not very well understood and the limits of the disease not well defined.
   
• I am worried that the commercial interests will place severe pressure on the technical experts to ease restrictions. - I hope that they get the balance right, with perhaps more targeted restrictions remaining after the general restrictions are eased.
   
• It is up to all horse owners and people in the industry to comply with the restrictions and to impose their own risk management procedures ie. not rely on Government regulations alone to protect their horses.
   
• I encourage horse owners to immediately report any signs of ill health in their horses to their local veterinarian who will advise them on appropriate action.
   
• This outbreak of EI raises the issue of the reluctance of the thoroughbred industry to embrace artificial insemination as an alternative to “shuttle stallions” – after all AI is readily used in most livestock industries including warm bloods and standard breds enabling wide use of desirable genetics with less disease risk and expense.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989