STOCKYARD
HORSE  DISCUSSION FORUMS

Lin

I've been away over east so have only just caught up with the fact that there is a major Equine Flu outbreak gong on. Even though the outbreak is currently only in two states (NSW and Qld), the flu is so infectious that we must all be vigilant about where our horses go and who visits them. Hence the nationwide horse movement ban.

I received the following email from EFA National today and thought it was worth sharing. We should all be following this advice - no riding out, cancelling all unnecessary visits by people who have been in contact with other horses etc - if we want WA to remain EI-free.

Lin

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Dr. Vince Roche and others have prepared an guide for horse owners to help prevent the spread of horse flu.

Please read this carefully and follow the instructions.

1. Keep your horse(s) at home or wherever they are currently situated. Do not take your horse out on trails or on the road. Even if your horses are well and you do not think they could have horse flu, do not attempt to move them even if you think there is a safer, a better or a more convenient place to keep them.

2. Look after your own horse(s) but avoid visiting horses at other places, even if they belong to friends and even if you think the other horses are well and not at risk of having horse flu. The greatest risk of spread is horse people visiting other horse people and / or horses!

3. Likewise, until the epidemic is over, don’t allow other people to visit your horses.

4. If you have absolutely no alternative to visiting other horses venues or horses (eg you work there or need to feed someone else’s horses) please shower and wash carefully and put on a completely fresh set of clothes (including shoes) after contact with your own horses and before you go to the other horses. Please repeat the process when you leave the other horses before you come home to your own horses. Do not put discarded clothes on again before washing them. Wash your clothes in a full wash cycle and scrub your shoes with a disinfectant for 5 minutes.

5. Horse equipment (saddles, bridles, rugs, feed bins, farrier tools, horse dentist equipment, vet equipment etc) are very difficult to disinfect and should only be used within one horse establishment / farm.

6. Horse flu is so infectious that you can safely assume that if one horse in your stables / farm has the disease, all the horses will get it. Precautions within your stables / farm are not necessary – but it is crucial that we cease the contact between horses in different stables / farms until the epidemic dies down.

7. If you suspect that your horse has horse flu (a deep hacking cough is the main symptom, but horses may have a temperature [normal horse temperature is 37.5 degrees to 38.5 degrees], a runny nose or be unwell) please contact your local vet. It is possible that your vet may be unable to attend your horses due to the scale of the epidemic – if so please ring the Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

8. Stay up to date on the epidemic by regularly (each day at least) visiting your horse organisation website or the Australian Horse Industry Council Website Horse Council . If you register on the Horse Emergency Contact Database (HECD) at Horse Council you will receive updates by email.

9. Please note that horses may become very ill if they contract horse flu, but usually recover well over time. Please do NOT give your horse any strenuous exercise before you are absolutely sure it has not contracted horse flu.

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Lin

admin

Thanks Lin.

cheers...admin

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oops...msg too short....LOL!!

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Department of Agriculture and Food
Department of Agriculture and Food

Equine Influenza - FAQs for Western Australia

For the most up-to-date information go to National Pests and Disease outbreak or call the hotline on 1800 234 002.
If you suspect equine influenza in your horse(s) contact a private veterinarian or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
WHAT IS THE EQUINE INFLUENZA INCIDENT?
An Equine influenza infection has been detected in the Eastern States.
WHAT IS EI?
Equine influenza (EI) is an acute, highly contagious, viral disease which can cause rapidly spreading outbreaks of respiratory disease in horses, donkeys, mules and other equine species. EI is exotic to Australia and would have a major impact on the Australian horse industry if it were to become established here.
HOW IS EI SPREAD?
The virus is usually spread by:

• Direct contact between infected and susceptible horses
• Indirect contact with contaminated tack or equipment
• Susceptible horses occupying buildings or vehicles recently occupied by diseased horses
• Close contact between contaminated horse handlers and healthy horses.

CAN PEOPLE CATCH EI?
Transmission of EI virus to humans has not occurred during outbreaks of EI in horses. Equine influenza poses no threat to people, however it can be spread from people to horses via infected clothing.
WHY IS CONTROLLING THE EQUINE INFLUENZA OUTBREAK IMPORTANT?
EI would have a major impact on livestock health and on the horse industry if it were to become established in the horse population. All horses will be permanently at risk of infection with subsequent impacts on competitive and domestic activities.
HOW CAN I TELL IF MY HORSE HAS EI?
The main clinical signs of EI are usually a sudden increase in temperature (to between 39°C and 41°C); a deep, dry, hacking cough; and a watery nasal discharge, which may later become thick and smelly.
Other signs can include depression, loss of appetite, laboured breathing, and muscle pain and stiffness.
Few adult horses die of the disease but it can kill young foals. Recovery usually occurs after a couple of weeks but horses need to be rested for a further period to avoid complications.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR EI?

• There is no specific treatment other than rest and supportive treatment for the fever and cough.
• Horses that are worked or stressed while sick or during recovery may develop secondary bacterial bronchitis or bronchopneumonia and die.
• Horses should be rested for at least one week for every day of coughing e.g. if the horse coughs for 5 days, rest it for 5 weeks.

WHAT RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN PUT ON HORSE MOVEMENTS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA?
All movements of horses in Western Australia have been restricted.
Horses that have been imported to Western Australia since 8 August have been traced.
Some horses, which were in transit when the restriction was put in place, were allowed to continue their journey.
WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE ON HORSE MOVEMENTS IN AUSTRALIA?
It has been agreed that all states and territories will implement a standstill on the movement of horses for at least 72 hours. This may be extended.
Horse transporters are requested to abide by the standstill and ensure their vehicles and equipment are cleaned before any future use.
Animal health authorities recommend that all equine events and gatherings should not take place during time.
Horse owners are being asked not to move horses from their properties and that they keep informed about updates for further restrictions. Avoid contact between your horses and other horses.
A number of race meetings have been called off in Australian states. Agricultural Shows, Breed Shows and other horse events have also been cancelled.
Racing clubs and other equine associations are being asked to cancel or postpone any meetings or events.
WHY ARE MOVEMENTS AND EVENTS BEING RESTRICTED?
The primary spread of equine influenza is by contact between infected horses. In order to ensure spread does not occur all horse movements have been prohibited.
HOW CAN I PROTECT MY HORSE?

• Keep your horse away from other horses.
• If you have contact with other horses scrub your footwear in disinfectant, shower and change your clothes before handling your horse.
• If you have contact with a sick horse do not go near another horse for 72 hours.

HOW DO I PROTECT MY PROPERTY FROM A POSSIBLE INFECTION?
Before entering or leaving any premises holding horses, horse owners or handlers should:

• Wear clothes and footwear which have had no contact with horses;
• If there is any doubt, clothes should be laundered in a hot wash or dry-cleaned and footwear be cleaned and disinfected;
• Shower or wash using plenty of warm water and soap; and
• Clean and disinfect any item or equipment that may have been in contact with horses including horse transport vehicles.

People having no contact with horses need take no special precautions.
WHAT ABOUT MY FEED DELIVERY?
Non-essential vehicles and visitors must be prevented from entering areas of the premises that hold horses. Arrange whenever possible for collection and delivery of supplies to take place at the boundary of the premises.
SHOULD I CANCEL MY FARRIER/CHIROPRACTOR/DENTIST/MASSAGE THERAPIST?
Access to properties should only be allowed if the matter is an emergency. Where possible do not make arrangements for these types of visits until after the stock standstill has been removed.
Where visits do take place ensure appropriate disinfection occurs by the property owner and the visitor.

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HOW DO I DISINFECT MY GEAR?
Equine influenza virus can easily be killed by vigorous cleaning and disinfection of potentially contaminated hands, clothing and objects and is rapidly inactivated by exposure to ultraviolet light.
A dirty surface must always be cleaned thoroughly before it can be satisfactorily disinfected. Organic material such as dirt, manure and straw may neutralise the disinfectant and make it useless.
It is therefore most important that anything that must be disinfected is first thoroughly washed and cleaned and finally washed down or sprayed with an approved disinfectant.
Bleach, diluted as per the manufacturer's recommendation, is a suitable disinfectant.
Specific agents to kill viruses are available. Please consult your veterinarian for further information.
As disinfectants and chemicals can be irritant, persons handling them should always read the product label and follow the manufacturer's instructions, and wear protective clothing as necessary.
IF MY HORSE IS INFECTED HOW DO I DISPOSE OF CONTAMINATED BEDDING OR FEED?
Contaminated materials from stables can be disposed of by burning (where approved), by burial or by composting. The virus that causes equine influenza does not survive long in the environment.
DO CARRIER ANIMALS EXIST?
No. Once an animal has recovered and a sufficient time (30 days) has elapsed they pose no risk to other horses.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY HORSE IS INFECTED?
All infected properties are being placed in quarantine to ensure that the affected animals do not move and the disease does not spread. Quarantines will be maintained until at least 30 days after the last signs were seen in affected horses.
ARE INFECTED HORSES KILLED?
Horses are not killed. Infected horses or donkeys are quarantined in order to prevent spread of the disease.
IS THERE A VACCINE AVAILABLE?
There are vaccines overseas but none will be available for use in the short term, especially since vaccination can complicate the diagnosis of the disease. We hope to eradicate the infection so permanent vaccination or horses in Australia will not be required.
CAN I IMPORT VACCINE FROM OVERSEAS?
Personal importation of vaccines is not permitted. Should this be attempted, vaccines will be confiscated at border controls.
AQIS performs 100 per cent screening of international mail and of passengers arriving at airports.
Financial penalties of up to $100,000 can be imposed as well as a potential jail sentence.
I AM LIKELY TO LOSE MONEY BECAUSE OF THIS DISEASE - CAN I SEEK COMPENSATION?
No, there is no compensation for loss of income or production. These controls are intended to benefit the whole industry, including domestic horse owners, in the long term.

Page amended: 27 August 2007



Department of Agriculture and Food

Equine Influenza Incident 2007
State Disease Control Headquarters Western Australia

National Standstill on Horse Movements

A national standstill has been declared on all movements of horses, donkeys and mules. In Western Australia, a standstill has been imposed by the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) as part of the national effort to control the spread of equine influenza and to prevent it from becoming established in Australia.
What restrictions apply in Western Australia?
No new journey should begin from premises where the horse(s) normally reside.
Horses in transit should return to the property of origin unless there are extenuating circumstances (eg long return journey with animal welfare implications).
Horses already at an event should remain there unless it is this is not possible (eg no facilities resulting in welfare problems). Horses that return home should be kept isolated from other horses and all equipment should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
All equine events and gatherings in Western Australia have been cancelled for the time being.
How long will the standstill apply?
It has been agreed nationally that the standstill will apply for 72 hours from Saturday afternoon, 25 August 2007. The situation will be kept under review, and the standstill may be extended or lifted depending on the findings.
How can I protect my horse?
Keep your horse away from other horses.
If you have contact with horses from another property scrub your footwear in disinfectant, shower and change your clothes before handling your horse.
If you have contact with a sick horse do not go near another horse for 72 hours.
How do I protect my property from possible infection?
Before entering or leaving any premises holding horses, horse owners or handlers should:

• wear clothes and footwear which have had no contact with horses
• if there is any doubt, clothes should be laundered in a hot wash or dry-cleaned, and footwear be cleaned and disinfected.
• shower or wash using plenty of warm water and soap, and
• clean and disinfect any item or equipment that may have been in contact with horses including horse transport vehicles.

People having no contact with horses need take no special precautions.
What about my feed delivery?
Non-essential vehicles and visitors must be prevented from entering areas of the premises that hold horses. Arrange whenever possible for collection and delivery of supplies to take place at the boundary of the premises.
Should I cancel planned visits by contractors?
Access to horse properties by contractors (farrier, chiropractor, massage therapist, dentist, etc) should only be allowed if the matter is an emergency. Where possible do not make arrangements for these types of visits until after the stock standstill has been lifted.
Where such a visit is required ensure that the contractor undertakes appropriate disinfection before entering and leaving the property.
How do I disinfect my gear?
Equine influenza virus can easily be killed by vigorous cleaning and disinfection of potentially contaminated hands, clothing and objects and is rapidly inactivated by exposure to ultraviolet light.
A dirty surface must always be cleaned thoroughly before it can be satisfactorily disinfected. Organic material such as dirt, manure and straw may neutralise the disinfectant and make it useless.
It is therefore most important that anything that must be disinfected is first thoroughly washed and cleaned and finally washed down or sprayed with an approved disinfectant.
Bleach, diluted as per the manufacturer's recommendation, is a suitable disinfectant.
Specific agents to kill viruses are available. Please consult your veterinarian for further information.
As disinfectants and chemicals can be irritant, persons handling them should always read the product label and follow the manufacturer's instructions, and wear protective clothing as necessary.
If you suspect equine influenza in your horse(s), contact your private veterinarian.
Veterinarians who suspect equine influenza should contact the WA Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
For further information on the standstill, phone the Department of Agriculture and Food on 0429 687 381.
Page amended: 27 August 2007

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Equine Influenza Incident 2007
State Disease Control Headquarters Western Australia

Biosecurity Procedures for Visiting Horse Properties

Principles

• Take care not to spread infection. Contaminated tack, equipment and personnel can easily transfer equine influenza virus between premises.
• Carry out transactions such as deliveries of feed well away from horse areas. If possible transfer at the boundary gate.
• Where possible, avoid using your own equipment or consumables. Instead use equipment already on the property such as halters and twitches etc.
• Equine Influenza virus can survive on skin, fabrics and the surface of contaminated equipment. Virus survival times can be as follows:
  • Hard, non-porous surfaces, plastic, stainless steel: 24-48 hours
  • Cloth and paper: 8-12 hours
• The equine influenza virus is easily killed by cleaning and disinfection.
• Organic material such as dirt, manure and straw may neutralise disinfectant and make it useless.
• In general terms, a "clean-on and clean-off" practice is required.

Entry onto property

• Park your vehicle away from immediate horse contact or where horses walk.
• Wear clean boots and fresh, clean clothing. If it is necessary to visit more than one horse property per day, wear clean rubber boots and gloves and a pair of clean overalls for each property visit (requires multiple pairs of disposable or cotton overalls).

Exit off the property

• Before leaving the property, thoroughly clean and wash boots and equipment.
• Disinfect your equipment and boots. Use bleach or a disinfectant such as Virkon® or chlorhexidine.
• Remove overalls and place in a plastic bag eg rubbish bag

After leaving the property

• Launder all clothing and disinfect, launder or dispose of overalls.
• After returning home have a thorough shower, including hair, and change clothes.

Page amended: 27 August 2007


National Pests and Disease outbreak

current national response link

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EQUINE INFLUENZA
27 August 2007 (11.50 am)

Don't buy illegal, bogus EI vaccine – NSW DPI warns

NSW Department of Primary Industries is warning horse owners to resist the urge to buy
equine influenza vaccine from the internet.

The importation of vaccine is illegal as it violates Customs and Quarantine rules and will
be confiscated by officials. It also has the potential to introduce significant diseases into
this country.

Chief veterinary officer Bruce Christie says owners will be wasting their money because
until such time as the particular strain is identified there is no way of knowing which
particular vaccine will work.

More information: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza

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Equine Influenza - Urgent NSW DPI Update for Veterinarians, Farriers, Equine Dentists and other Paraveterinarians

Equine Influenza is being detected at widespread locations in NSW, due to movements of horses, people or equipment before the standstill was imposed three days ago.

In view of this, all veterinarians, farriers, equine dentists and other paraveterinarians are advised to keep all visits to horse establishments to an absolute minimum, for emergencies only, and particularly to avoid sequential visits on the same day.

Only essential and emergency visits should be undertaken for the next ten days, while the true extent of the disease is established.

Hygiene and biosecurity guidelines for veterinarians and industry are posted on the NSW DPI website at Equine Influenza | NSW Department of Primary Industries and other specialist guidelines will also be placed there as they are developed.



Helen Scott-Orr
Director
Health Science, Strategic Alliances & Evaluation
NSW Department of Primary Industries

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This is the most up-to-date information on the Equine Influenza situation in
Hey Admin/mod if this isnt alrite posting this info on here let me know, please dont close the thread i this is the only way i could send it to all the horsey owners


NSW. Please pass on to other horse owners.

Equine Influenza virus may have possibly come out of Eastern Creek Quarantine Station and transferred to a horse (yet unknown) that went to a One Day Event at Maitland on Saturday 18th August. Infection spread from Maitland to at least 50 other sites in NSW and at least one in Queensland. The NSW authorities are concentrating on tracing and checking all 250 horses that were at the Maitland event. They are also trying to identify how infection reached the Maitland event.

Equine Influenza is highly infective and has a very short incubation period. Just how infective can be seen from the 2 horses returning from Maitland to Centennial Park stables. They developed signs on about Tuesday 21st August. They spread the disease to 160 horses of the other 162 horses in the stables in less than a week.

Horses from Centennial Park went to competitions this past weekend at Parkes and Tamworth where further infections have been confirmed. Other movements of horses from Centennial Park are also being traced.

The authorities are still confident that the standstill will contain the disease as long as horse owners cooperate fully.

There are many horses that are being held at venues around NSW having been caught in the standstill during the weekend. If these horses remain free of infection over the next few days it can be assumed that there are no infected horses at that venue. These horses will be allowed to return home in due course under a permit system.

At venues where infection has developed, and this includes Parkes and Tamworth, the horses will have to be retained for an extended period. Other than movement restrictions there are no control procedures like animal destruction or vaccination being practised. The disease will burn itself out as long as animals are kept on property.

The current complete standstill of all horses will be extended and is being enforced by the Police and RTA. Any movements within NSW have to be approved by the Local Disease Control Centre.

These restrictions have come at a critically difficult time for the studs and breeding sector. There are a number of suspect properties located in and around the intensive breeding areas such as the Hunter Valley. While the disease situation is unclear it would be foolish to risk further spread of infection by allowing horse movements.

Movements of para-veterinary personnel such as farriers and dentists are to be restricted while the movement standstill is in place. Veterinary visits are to be kept to an absolute minimum. Veterinarians have been issued with Biosecurity guidelines to prevent transfer of infection. Guidelines are being developed to allow visits by horse para-veterinary personnel. We repeat that the risk of new infection is so great and the current position after only three days is so uncertain that the horse industry needs to err on the side of caution to ensure we eliminate the disease as quickly as possible.

If you want to see any official notification check the DPI website at Equine Influenza | NSW Department of Primary Industries The Horse Council site has been getting overloaded!

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contained in these links are information and also phone numbers to dob people in for moving their horses
Info is also available on the following sites:

Vic Department of Primary Industries and Department of Sustainability and Environment

NSW Agriculture | NSW Department of Primary Industries

QLD Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Queensland - Home

SA PIRSA- Home

WA Department of Agriculture and Food

NT Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines - Primary Industry

Tas Department of Primary Industries and Water

Australian Horse Industry council http://www.horsecouncil.com.au

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