STOCKYARD
HORSE  DISCUSSION FORUMS

feather feet

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Tuesday, January 29, 2008

More zone changes as equine influenza nears eradication in Queensland

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today Queensland was accelerating towards becoming Equine Influenza free with the Green Zone that covers most of the state poised to revert to a White Zone.

White is the classification that has been used for unaffected states and allows free movement of horses between these areas.

Mr Mulherin said from February 1, 2008 there would be even greater freedom of movement for horse owners and industries.

“The last five months have been really tough for horse owners and for the industries that rely on them, but everyone’s hard work has finally paid off,’’ he said.

“The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries strategy of strict movement conditions, good biosecurity and the vaccination program, combined with the cooperation of Queensland horse owners has brought us to the point of eradication a lot sooner than we had hoped.

“There have been no new cases of infection reported since Christmas, and the longer we go without seeing new cases the more confident we are that the disease has burnt out.

“These rapid developments mean tremendous news for Green Zone horse owners, who will be able to move their horses within the White Zone and to unaffected states without testing and quarantine requirements from February 1, 2008. A waybill or other documentation required by the destination state will still be needed.

“If everything continues to go well and our surveillance doesn’t find anything of concern, the plan of attack is to also accelerate other changes.”

Mr Mulherin said the accelerated program should also see the Amber Zone in the south east corner revert to White in late February.

“The schedule follows a meeting of the National Management Group, attended by DPI&F Director-General Mr Jim Varghese, which endorsed plans for an accelerated recovery program in Queensland and New South Wales.’’

“It also builds on the success of DPI&F’s vaccination and containment program, which has seen the disease restricted to the south east corner of the state. ‘’

As well as changes to the Green Zone, the accelerated eradication program will see:

• Queensland’s Red Zone, the area that includes all known infected properties and has the most stringent movement restrictions, reclassified as a Green Zone by mid March 2008, provided all goes well. This would mean that horses could move freely within that zone as long as they have a waybill, a document easily downloaded from the DPI&F website. Minimal movement conditions are envisaged for movement out of the zone at that time.

• Queensland’s Amber Zone should become part of the White Zone on 20 February

• A strong possibility of Queensland being declared completely free of EI by June 2008.

However, it is still crucial that any suspect cases of equine influenza are reported to a local vet or DPI&F immediately.

Details of what the new changes will mean for horse owners are available on the DPI&F website Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Queensland - Home or by calling 13 25 23

great news....

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real horses weigh a ton

KPF

I have been told by the DPI of NSW also that they expect EI to be over and done with in NSW by the end of march also? Don't know, but just an optomistic outcome I was given.

I hope they are right!

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Kendhall Park Friesians, breeding quality riding type Friesians and FW's. www.kendhallparkfriesians.com.au

feather feet

it is great news..i'm waiting for my girl to come here from QLD,she can come now,but she has to go through 21 days of quarrantine,and i dont want to stress her that much..so i'll wait until march.....

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real horses weigh a ton

goodie

The latest from SA

EQUINE INFLUENZA – CHANGES FROM TODAY


Changes to the strict requirements in place to protect South Australia's horse
industry will be relaxed from today (Feb 1 2008), reflecting the increasing confidence interstate that equine influenza might be eradicated in the next month or two.

The changes aim to facilitate recovery of the state's horse industry and include:
• Moving from a permit system for events to a registration system (all
gatherings of more than 10 horses from two or more properties)
• Freeing up horse movements between the green zones of New South
Wales and Queensland into South Australia (allowed under permit with a
relaxation of pre-entry and post arrival requirements)
Organisers must register events with PIRSA and people attending events must
complete and hand in an Event Participant Declaration (EPD) or a Horse Health
Statement (HHS) if travelling from interstate on arrival at the venue.
Appropriate biosecurity measures will still be required at all events.
Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Rob Rahaley said that it was pleasing to be able to relax requirements but warned that it was important for horse owner to remain vigilant.
"It's about five weeks since a new case of EI in either New South Wales or
Queensland, but the risk now is thinking there is no risk and we can't afford for that to happen when we're so close to becoming EI free."
Dr Rahaley said that the new requirements for event organisers and horse owners were a balance that provided greater scope for events and horse movements to resume but which maintained a reasonable level of biosecurity.
"I am confident we have the mix right and if everyone plays their part in the next month or so, we will be able to further relax the requirements. Of course, any change will be dependent on continued success in eradication of the disease interstate."
A number of community briefings are being arranged to provide more detailed
information to horse owners about the changes and recovering from EI. Details of the meetings are on the PIRSA web site and will be advertised in regional print media.
More information:
• PIRSA website – Equine Influenza Response | Home
• PIRSA hotline – 1800 675 888
• Equestrian clubs and associations
• Horse SA 0402 488 306

Issued by: PIRSA Communications and Marketing
Telephone: 8226 0539
PIRSA- Home
MEDIA RELEASE
Friday 1 February 2008

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feather feet

more great news

Zone changes expected next week

The DPI&F is confident it will announce further zone changes next week.

Queensland’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Ron Glanville said in order to achieve zone changes, the DPI&F must complete a large scale random surveillance operation.

“Surveillance is required to prove that infection is not present, thereby meeting the national requirements for zones to change status,” he said.

These changes will result in the current Red Zone becoming Amber, and the current Amber Zone changing to White. Both changes will further free up horse movement in south east Queensland.

In the new Amber Zone (previously Red), horses can move freely on hoof and can be transported with just a waybill within the Amber Zone. However a permit and waybill will be necessary for horses to move outside the zone or interstate, and specific isolation and testing requirements may apply depending on individual horse status.

The new White Zone (previously Amber) will be joined with the rest of the state. Within the White Zone horses can move freely on hoof and can be transported with only a waybill. This reclassification will also make it significantly easier to move horses from this area into white zones in other states. Waybills and travel documentation may still be required.

Dr Glanville reminded people to contact the DPI&F for all inter-zone and interstate horse movements.



EI Surveillance program on track

DPI&F’s surveillance team have successfully completed random EI testing of more than 1,000 horses in the Red and Amber zones in preparation for proposed zone changes next week.

Vaccinations Support Team Manager Dr Fiona Thompson said that the surveillance team have been working tirelessly to complete the program on time.

“We have a team of 26 veterinarians and 22 equine field assistants out sampling horses,” she said.

“These staff have done a fantastic job collecting and processing samples from more than 1,000 horses all across south east Queensland.”

Dr Thompson explained that national guidelines for the EI response required 180 properties from the Amber Zone to be sampled and for the Red Zone to remain free of infection before the next round of zone changes can proceed.

“Obviously, zone changes and plans to lift movement restrictions can’t go ahead until we’ve thoroughly checked that EI is not present in Queensland,” she said.

“The horse-owning community have been very understanding. Our staff report that most horse owners are willing to have surveillance done.

“They are really looking forward to things getting back to normal.”



Random Surveillance requirements

Some horse owners are unsure whether they need to have their horse PCR (nasal swab) tested again if it was recently tested, for example at an event.

All horses selected for random surveillance must be tested again, even if they have been PCR tested recently.

This is because PCR testing gives an indication of active infection at the time of sampling, compared with serology that gives an indication of past infection. It is also a necessary part of the Proof of Freedom requirements.

However in the case of blood testing, if a horse has had blood taken for serology since 1 February 2008, the DPI&F no longer requires a blood sample from that horse.

Microchip numbers will be checked as required. If a microchip cannot be found, the horse will be deemed to be naïve and will be PCR and blood tested.



QLD horses head interstate for major polo tournament

A convoy of 141 polo horses and their owners hit the road in Queensland yesterday, headed interstate for a major polo tournament.

The Ellerston Polo Tournament near Scone in NSW is the nation’s premier event for polo and is the first major polo event held since EI hit last year.

Ellerston is also the renowned country retreat of the Packer Family, a property well known for producing polo ponies and Hereford cattle. It boasts a Greg Norman designed golf course and, of course, world class polo facilities.

All of the Queensland horses have fulfilled their quarantine and testing requirements. They will compete in two tournaments at the luxurious Ellerston complex over the next month before returning home at the end of March.

"It’s possible that by the time they return, all things going well, Queensland’s current Red Zone will have gone through two zone changes – becoming Amber at the end of this month, and then in mid to late March progressing to a Green Zone – further freeing up horse movement," DPI&F Quarantine Coordinator Dr Mandy Finnimore said.



Nominations out for Sports Star Awards

High profile showjumper and EI Project vaccinations officer Robert Goodwin is one of 11 nominees for the 2008 Warwick Sports Star of the Year Awards.

The winner will be named at a gala awards night on March 10 at Warwick RSL Club and will receive $1000 cash.

At age 22 Robert has been in the saddle since the age of three and has represented Australia five times for showjumping in Germany, Korea and the United States. He is heavily involved in his family’s warmblood breeding enterprise and regularly coaches other riders.

His competition and training schedule was put on hold due to EI and since October he has been working with the DPI&F, first as the field assistant for the Warwick Community Resource Centre and most recently as the vaccinations officer for Pittsworth.

“My horses are back in work now and I’m hoping to compete in the London Olympics… that’s the plan anyway,” he smiled.

Former manager Kirsty O’Connell said Robert’s industry knowledge, contacts and people skills have represented a great asset to the EI Eradication Project.



Veterinarians praise DPI&F events work

DPI&F has established a successful working relationship with veterinarians during the recent surveillance program and has won praise for its proactive work in promoting good biosecurity at events.

Downs Veterinary Group vet Dr Peter Lynch is among those who have participated in the random sampling at events.

Of the Seven Mile Lagoon Trail Riders Club event on 10 February he noted, "organisation (in terms of biosecurity measures) was very good and the general awareness of EI and biosecurity responsibility was extremely pleasing."

Other vets have echoed his positive feedback, saying that events have generally run very smoothly, with effective compliance.

DPI&F Strategic Vaccination Area Officer Dr Anita Scampton said successful events are only possible thanks to the cooperation of hard working event organisers.

"I attended the Fernvale-Lowood event recently and, as in most cases, found that the event organisers were friendly and helpful and the attendees were polite and efficient at presenting their horses for testing. Everyone was pleased at the DPI&F presence at the event," she said.



Requests for Property Status Resolution no longer needed

Horse owners no longer need to apply to have their properties reassessed as there have been no new cases of EI confirmed in 2008 and DPI&F veterinarians are now finalising the re-assessment of the equine influenza statuses of horse properties.

Throughout the campaign, horse properties were classified as Infected, Suspect, Dangerous Contact or Negative Premises. Horse owners were able to apply to DPI&F for a change of status by filling in a request for status reassessment form and providing a statutory declaration signed by a Justice of the Peace.

A second process also operated under which owners were able to wait until the status of the property had been in place long enough to warrant being reviewed without a specific request being sent to DPI&F.

Properties have now been reclassified by veterinarians via one of these two processes as Resolved, Negative or Zero (no horses) Premises.

The last Infected Property was resolved on 7 February, while the final Dangerous Contact Properties had their statuses re-assessed on 11 February.

Owners are receiving letters advising them of the change of premises status.

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real horses weigh a ton