Australia Crisis talks over horse flu epidemic
Pastor Dale Morgan
Australia Crisis talks over horse flu epidemic *
August 25, 2007 08:57am
Article from: AAP
AGRICULTURE Minister Peter McGauran says state and territory veterinary
officials will meet later today to co-ordinate the response to the
outbreak of equine influenza (EI).
Racing officials are in crisis talks with the NSW Government to try to
identify the source of EI found in 11 horses stabled at Centennial Park
which has halted all horse movement and shut down racing in the state.
The horses in question are not racehorses, but some are believed to have
travelled to country shows in the past few days.
A five kilometre exclusion zone is in place around the Centennial Park
stables, taking in nearby Randwick Racecourse where some 700
thoroughbreds are trained.
"Later this morning, the exotic diseases committee made up of the chief
veterinary officers of every state and territory will be meeting, and
they will be making decisions about how each of their different
jurisdictions will respond," Mr McGauran said on Sky News today.
"We've never had an introduction of influenza in the equine population
of Australia ever before, and now eleven horses have provenly tested to
influenza A, and if it ws to escape beyond the stable of the horses in
centennial park it would have a devastating effect on the horse population."
The first case of EI in Australia was detected in a stallion at the
Eastern Creek quarantine station west of Sydney on Thursday.
Mr McGauran said the infection was not harmful to humans but it could be
spread through human to horse as well as horse to horse contact.
It was not yet known whether a vaccination was available, he said,
adding a nationwide immunisation of horses could be considered.
He said veterinary, horse racing and government officials were viewing
the outbreak "extremely seriously ... there could be no more serious
situation to be frank".
"Across (NSW) all horse movements will now be restricted, racing will
not occur anywhere ... for at least today and possibly for a period.
Mr McGauran also did not rule out implications for this years' Melbourne
Cup in November.
"All horse racing and the thoroughbred and horse industry across
Australia, in all of its sectors and components, could be affected in
the worst case scenario," Mr McGauran said.
"But we won't allow ourselves to even consider the worst case scenario
because we are working to contain it otherwise the worst case scenario
will eventuate."