EQUINE INFLUENZA

Whilst the initial shock of the EI outbreak is decreasing, the threat of EI in our region is greater than ever, with increasing numbers of infected horses, reports of increasing severity of disease as the weather gets warmer, and outbreaks getting nearer all the time. It is for this reason that horse owners should be even more vigilant in their efforts to minimize the risk of infection in their horses. With such a large area of the state involved, and some horse movements now permitted the likelihood of coming in to contact with an visitor or vehicle that has been exposed to an infected horse is high if everyone is not super vigilant. While we, in the southern NSW “green zone”, have appreciated a relaxing of the stringent conditions that were initially imposed, we must not take this good fortune for granted.

Practical steps that horse owners can take remain the same as during the initial weeks of the outbreak. Do not move horses more than necessary (this includes riding out on public roads) and do not ride out or move horses without a “Traveling Horse Statement” (available from the NSW DPI web site). Do not have contact with other people’s horses (or allow other people to have contact with your horses).

Decontaminate yourself (showering, wash hair and hands change all clothes and shoes, have sufficient “down time” away from horses etc). Make appropriate inquires regarding the movements of people who must come in to contact with your horses (vets and farriers etc). Of great concern is any movement or activity associated with the “hotter”, riskier zones to the north of us (see boxed text for explanation of the various “zones”). Remember to contact the hotline if you suspect your horse may have contracted Equine Influenza (Ph: 1800 675 888) signs include coughing, nasal discharge, temperature and lethargy.

Many clients are querying us on the availability of vaccination for their horses. At this stage there is no plan for generalized vaccination of horses in our region, and any attempt to do so is illegal. It is not a case of playing favorites that some racehorses are being vaccinated when breeding, pleasure and other performance horses are not. There are two chief reasons for this. One reason is that through full identification (including microchipping, blood typing and “passports”), licensing of personal, stable returns etc the industry bodies can keep extremely accurate records of the movements and whereabouts of these horses enabling on going containment efforts to proceed. The second reason refers to the “value” of the horses to the community (this is not about the horse’s own actual value which may or may not be higher than that of other horses). Racehorses and the racing industry have an enormous contribution to Australian society both through employment of a huge number of people and through the raising of funds (taxes and racing revenue) to build roads, schools and hospitals (something to keep in mind when the public queries “all the fuss” about horse flu!). This is why it is seen as vital that we can keep this industry afloat.