2007 Australian equine influenza outbreak
Encyclopedia
An outbreak of equine influenza (EI) in Australia
was confirmed by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
on 24 August 2007 in Sydney
. Also known as "horse flu" and "A1 influenza", the rapid outbreak was of the Influenza A virus strain of subtype H3N8. While the virus is highly contagious, it rarely kills adult horses but the performance of thoroughbred racing horses can be affected for several weeks. It can be fatal to young foals and debilitated horses.
Because of strict quarantine procedures to reduce the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering Australia, this was the first outbreak of equine influenza in Australia. Horses in Australia had not been exposed to the virus and, not being vaccinated, were fully susceptible.
A combination of control measures was successful in combating the outbreak. The last new infected property was identified on 22 December 2007. The zones which had been instituted to permit and restrict movements according to risk were progressively lifted from areas of New South Wales
and Queensland
. Following the provisional declaration of EI-free status for New South Wales and Queensland, ongoing surveillance and tracking measures are required until the international community recognises that the disease has been eradicated from Australia.
Quarantine Station earlier in August 2007, soon after an outbreak of EI in Japan
. By Tuesday 21 August, several horses at Eastern Creek showed symptoms of a viral infection and subsequently tested positive for equine influenza. On the same day, several recreational horses at Centennial Parklands
Equestrian Centre also displayed symptoms of infection. There was no direct contact between horses at Eastern Creek and horses at Centennial Park and investigations are underway.
The first case of EI in Australia was confirmed in a stallion at Eastern Creek on 24 August. The positive test resulted in the lockdown of approximately 60 horses at the Eastern Creek and Spotswood quarantine stations (in Sydney and Melbourne respectively). 16 horses at Eastern Creek and at Centennial Parklands tested positive for EI virus while another six exhibited symptoms. By the next day, there were over 80 suspected cases. All horses were isolated and a 72 hour national standstill on the movement of horses was declared.
By 26 August 161 of the 165 horses at Centennial Parklands and other horses at Parkes
, Moonbi
, Berry
, Wilberforce
, Cattai
and Wyong
were confirmed as being infected. Most of the infected horses at Centennial Park were found to have been together at a One Day Event at Maitland
the previous week.
On 26 August 2007 about 300 horses were released from the Narrabri
Showground where campdraft competitions were held.
By 27 August, more than 400 horses on 50 properties in New South Wales had been quarantined after showing symptoms. A horse trials event at the Morgan Park Equestrian Centre near Warwick
in Queensland was locked down after 20 infections were confirmed. Horses at Gatton
tested positive on 27 August. Also on 27 August, New South Wales police confirmed that six police horses had tested positive and the police stables were placed under quarantine for two months. Police horses were suspected of being infected after some police riders attended the Maitland gymkhana. Infections were confirmed and quarantine zones established at Mount Hunter
, Moree
, Aberdeen
and Anambah.
On 29 August, a racecourse at Hamilton
in Victoria
went into lockdown when a horse began to exhibit signs of influenza however, the flu tests were negative.
Additional quarantine zones were declared at Lake Macquarie, Terry Hie Hie
, East Maitland
, Warwick, Timbumburi
, Eagleton (near Raymond Terrace
) and some areas of Kenthurst
following further positive flu tests.
On 30 August, a thoroughbred racehorse at Randwick Racecourse returned a preliminary positive test for EI, although did not have any symptoms of infection. Track work was cancelled and the stables were locked down. Tests confirmed that eight race horses in the stable had EI and the racecourse was quarantined for two months. This brought the number of confirmed infections to 488 on 41 properties, plus another 1,646 suspected infections on 100 properties. The first infection in Brisbane
was confirmed, increasing the number of quarantine zones in Queensland to five.
On 5 November 2007 it was announced that a new outbreak of EI has occurred about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Walcha
.
By early December, the number of new cases had declined and it appeared that the outbreak had been effectively contained. On 22 December a substantial part of the New South Control one was promoted to a provisionally free status.
By mid February 2008 it was increasingly clear that the outbreak had been successfully controlled and, on 28 February, the NSW Government declared victory against EI, lifting most of the remaining movement restrictions on horses.
Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran denied any quarantine breach and said the Maitland event "seems to be where the spread of the infection occurred".
zone was declared around Eastern Creek Quarantine Station and the Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre, where the first infections were identified, on 24 August. Quarantine zones were then placed around each new infection site.
Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran ordered a 72-hour nationwide ban on all horse and harness racing on 25 August.
A national standstill was decided by the National Committee for Exotic Animal Disease to begin at 1pm on Saturday 25 August. Each state and territory was responsible for enacting the legal instrument within their borders. All horse movements were halted within New South Wales on 25 August, initially for 72 hours. The Control Order was made under the Exotic Diseases of Animals Act 1991 making it illegal to move horses. The Australian Capital Territory
, contained wholly within New South Wales, was also declared a quarantine zone with no horse movements permitted across the border. The whole of Victoria was declared a Control Area on 25 August; shortly after, movement bans within Victoria were lifted, but bans on the import of horses and equine gear into Victoria remained until 15 January 2008. Western Australia
imposed a 72 hour standstill. Queensland Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin declared the entire state an Equine Standstill Zone from 25 August.
The Northern Territory
government placed a 72 hour ban on horse movements from 27 August.
Sydney's Randwick Racecourse
was locked down on 27 August after two horses presented with flu symptoms. Federal Primary Industries Minister Senator Ian Macdonald
extended the 72 hour ban on horse movement by 7 days. The New South Wales government subsequently made the ban on horse movements and race meetings indefinite.
Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd
called for an independent inquiry into the Australian quarantine system.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries warned horse owners against buying EI vaccine online as the importation of vaccines is illegal.
The Agricultural Societies Council banned horses from agricultural show
s at Grenfell
, Narromine
, Barmedman
, Lake Cargelligo
, Finley
, Manildra
, Minto
and Woodstock
.
The Werribee Open Range Zoo
cancelled its rhinoceros
tour as a precaution, banned human contact with its zebra
s and took its horses and donkeys off public display.
On 2 September the Australian Prime Minister, the hon. John Howard, ordered a public inquiry into the outbreak of EI in Australia. Appointing retired former High Court judge Ian Callinan to conduct the inquiry, the Prime Minister stated that judge Callinan would have sweeping powers to investigate "every aspect" of the crisis. Initial reports say that 100 people are in line to be questioned in the inquiry, which is believed to be centring around the Eastern Creek quarantine station in Sydney's western suburbs.
altered meeting times on Sunday 26 August to provide some racing for the Australian betting market and have temporarily suspended early betting on the Australian Spring racing carnival.
Japanese horses were reported as being unlikely to travel to Australia for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
. The trainer of defending Melbourne Cup
winner Delta Blues
and second placegetter Pop Rock
confirmed that both horses would not be returning to Australia in 2007.
The Philippines
banned imports of Australian racehorses as a precautionary measure, but praised Australia for "acting responsibly and banning the movement of horses".
said "when you take into account breeders, trainers, jockeys and race meetings the outbreak will affect the economy."
Peter McGauran called for the Melbourne Cup
to be postponed. Racing Victoria Limited
admitted the outbreak would affect the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
but vowed to defy the call to postpone the Melbourne Cup. Several betting agencies temporarily suspended betting on the Melbourne Cup
.
New South Wales police said the ban on horse movements could affect crowd control at the APEC Australia 2007
summit where mounted police were planned to be used. Mounted police patrols for APEC were cancelled on 28 August after all NSW police horses were quarantined.
By noon on 27 August, police had stopped over 100 people transporting horses in violation of the ban, and plans to bring police horses from Victoria for APEC had been scrapped.
The Parkes
Show
was cancelled after several horses in the area were diagnosed with EI and the showground was quarantined. For the second time in its 125 year history, the Birdsville Races
were called off as Queensland Racing Minister Andrew Fraser cancelled all horse racing in the state.
The Australian Racing Board agreed to move the breeding season forward by six days to ease anticipated congestion of servicing bookings once the movement ban was lifted.
The Randwick Trainers' Association ceased negotiations with the Catholic Church and the NSW Government over plans to hold a World Youth Day
Papal mass at Randwick Racecourse in July 2008. Trainer John O'Shea said holding the mass at Randwick was now "out of the question" as the disruption and damage to the racecourse would multiply the damage of the EI outbreak. However, the mass went ahead, with all horses being removed from the track starting 13 June 2008 in preparation for construction work needed for the event.
The outbreak forced the cancellation of a 3-day qualifying event for the 2008 Summer Olympics
scheduled to be held in Sydney on 13 September.
Cattle mustering in Queensland, which is often carried out on horseback, was halted due to the ban on horse movements.
The Sydney spring racing carnival was cancelled following the outbreak at Randwick racecourse. NSW horses will be prevented from travelling to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup
.
The Equine Influenza has also had an ongoing effect on the Largest National Equine Endurance
Event The Shahzada
which was to be held at St Albans NSW from 27–31 August. All horses at the event were locked down for over a week, with many competitors travelling from interstate. It has been a disaster, with many not being able to bring their highly trained animals home. Many of these horses have had to be left on properties within New South Wales.
On 23 January 2008 The Keeper of the Australian Stud Book, Michael Ford, reported that "To date, 23,305 mares have recorded coverings by 679 stallions, a decrease of 13% on last year’s 26,800 coverings." However, Mr Ford expected the gap to be narrowed to 10% after late lodgements and paddock services were received later in the season. "A depleted foal crop will have an effect on racing in two years, lasting for several years” explained Mr Ford. ”It also impacts on future foal crops in six years’ time when horses from that crop go to stud."
New South Wales was declared free of equine influenza by the state Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald
on 29 February 2008. Queensland, the only other state affected by the outbreak, has no infected properties and is expected to be declared EI free within a few weeks.
was commissioned to undertake an investigation into the EI outbreak. His findings were released on 12 June 2008 in a scathing report, in which Australia's quarantine system was described as "inefficient, underfunded and lacking diligence". The new Agriculture Minister
Tony Burke
promised that all 38 of the report's recommendations would be implemented, and that a "massive change" in the culture of the quarantine service should occur. The federal government also appointed Professor Peter Shergold to oversee the implementation of the report's recommendations over 2009-2010.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
was confirmed by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
New South Wales Department of Primary Industries
The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, a division of the New South Wales Government, is responsibile for the administration and development for agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, state forests, biosecurity, and crown lands in New South Wales...
on 24 August 2007 in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Also known as "horse flu" and "A1 influenza", the rapid outbreak was of the Influenza A virus strain of subtype H3N8. While the virus is highly contagious, it rarely kills adult horses but the performance of thoroughbred racing horses can be affected for several weeks. It can be fatal to young foals and debilitated horses.
Because of strict quarantine procedures to reduce the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering Australia, this was the first outbreak of equine influenza in Australia. Horses in Australia had not been exposed to the virus and, not being vaccinated, were fully susceptible.
A combination of control measures was successful in combating the outbreak. The last new infected property was identified on 22 December 2007. The zones which had been instituted to permit and restrict movements according to risk were progressively lifted from areas of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. Following the provisional declaration of EI-free status for New South Wales and Queensland, ongoing surveillance and tracking measures are required until the international community recognises that the disease has been eradicated from Australia.
Outbreak
Four Japanese racing stallions had arrived at Eastern CreekEastern Creek, New South Wales
Eastern Creek is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Eastern Creek is located 35 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.Eastern Creek is west of the...
Quarantine Station earlier in August 2007, soon after an outbreak of EI in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. By Tuesday 21 August, several horses at Eastern Creek showed symptoms of a viral infection and subsequently tested positive for equine influenza. On the same day, several recreational horses at Centennial Parklands
Centennial Parklands
Centennial Parklands is the name given to a group of three parklands in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Comprising approximately 360 hectares, the lands encompass Centennial Park, Moore Park and Queens Park and is managed by the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, acting as trustee for...
Equestrian Centre also displayed symptoms of infection. There was no direct contact between horses at Eastern Creek and horses at Centennial Park and investigations are underway.
By 26 August 161 of the 165 horses at Centennial Parklands and other horses at Parkes
Parkes, New South Wales
- Transport :Parkes has a local bus service provided by Western Road Liners, which acquired Harris Bus Lines in March 2006. The Indian Pacific also stops twice a week, as well as the Broken Hill Outback Xplorer service, run by CountryLink, which heads to Broken Hill on Mondays and Sydney on...
, Moonbi
Moonbi, New South Wales
Moonbi is a village situated on the New England Highway 20 kilometres north of Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. It is nestled at the foot of the Moonbi Range and is part of the Tamworth Regional Council Local Government Area. Moonbi is located a few kilometres to the north of town of Kootingal...
, Berry
Berry, New South Wales
Berry is a small Australian town in the Shoalhaven region of the NSW South Coast in the state of New South Wales, located south of the state capital, Sydney. The indigenous people of the area were the Wodi Wodi people. In the 1810s, George William Evans, Government Surveyor, reported on the Berry...
, Wilberforce
Wilberforce, New South Wales
Wilberforce is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, in the local government area of the City of Hawkesbury. It is just beyond the outer suburbs of north-west Sydney and lies on the western bank of the Hawkesbury River.-History:...
, Cattai
Cattai, New South Wales
Cattai is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cattai is located 63 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of The Hills Shire and City of Hawkesbury....
and Wyong
Wyong, New South Wales
Wyong was proclaimed a town in 1888 and is currently a major northern suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, located approximately 89 km NNE of Sydney. It is the administrative centre for the Wyong Shire local government area.- History :...
were confirmed as being infected. Most of the infected horses at Centennial Park were found to have been together at a One Day Event at Maitland
Maitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
the previous week.
On 26 August 2007 about 300 horses were released from the Narrabri
Narrabri, New South Wales
Narrabri is a town and seat of Narrabri Shire Council Local Government Area in the North West Slopes, New South Wales, Australia. Narrabri is situated on the Namoi River and lies northwest of Sydney. It sits on the junction of the Kamilaroi Highway and the Newell Highway...
Showground where campdraft competitions were held.
By 27 August, more than 400 horses on 50 properties in New South Wales had been quarantined after showing symptoms. A horse trials event at the Morgan Park Equestrian Centre near Warwick
Warwick, Queensland
Warwick is a town in Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Local Government Area. In 2006 the town of Warwick had a population of 12,562....
in Queensland was locked down after 20 infections were confirmed. Horses at Gatton
Gatton, Queensland
Gatton is a town and the administrative centre of the Lockyer Valley Local Government Area situated in the Lockyer Valley of South East Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Gatton had a population of 5,295....
tested positive on 27 August. Also on 27 August, New South Wales police confirmed that six police horses had tested positive and the police stables were placed under quarantine for two months. Police horses were suspected of being infected after some police riders attended the Maitland gymkhana. Infections were confirmed and quarantine zones established at Mount Hunter
Mount Hunter, New South Wales
Mount Hunter is a scattered village in the Macarthur Region of New South Wales, Australia. A large portion of the area is within the Wollondilly Shire and the rest is located within Camden Council. It has a population of 899.-References:...
, Moree
Moree, New South Wales
Moree is a large town in Moree Plains Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the banks of the Mehi River in the centre of the rich black-soil plains....
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen, New South Wales
Aberdeen is a small town in the upper Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia, in Upper Hunter Shire. It is located about 12 kilometres north of Muswellbrook on the New England Highway. Aberdeen is named after Aberdeen, Scotland. At the 2006 census, Aberdeen had a population of...
and Anambah.
On 29 August, a racecourse at Hamilton
Hamilton, Victoria
Hamilton is a city in western Victoria, Australia. It is located at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
went into lockdown when a horse began to exhibit signs of influenza however, the flu tests were negative.
Additional quarantine zones were declared at Lake Macquarie, Terry Hie Hie
Terry Hie Hie, New South Wales
Terry Hie Hie is a very small farming town in the north of New South Wales, Australia within the Moree Plains Shire Council...
, East Maitland
East Maitland, New South Wales
East Maitland is a suburb in the City of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. It is on the New England Highway and it has two stations, Victoria Street station and East Maitland station , on CityRail's Hunter line.It is also home to a major commercial district called Greenhills, which includes...
, Warwick, Timbumburi
Parry County, New South Wales
Parry County is one of the 141 Cadastral divisions of New South Wales. It is bounded by the Peel River and Cockburn River on the north, near Tamworth. The Moonbi Range is on the eastern boundary, and the Peel Range on the western boundary. The Great Dividing Range is the boundary to the south-east...
, Eagleton (near Raymond Terrace
Raymond Terrace, New South Wales
Raymond Terrace is a town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about by road north of Newcastle on the Pacific Highway. Established in 1837 it is situated at the confluence of the Hunter and Williams rivers and has about 12,600 residents. It is the administrative centre of the Port...
) and some areas of Kenthurst
Kenthurst, New South Wales
Kenthurst is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kenthurst is located 39 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire and part of the Hills District region....
following further positive flu tests.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
was confirmed, increasing the number of quarantine zones in Queensland to five.
On 5 November 2007 it was announced that a new outbreak of EI has occurred about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Walcha
Walcha, New South Wales
Walcha is a parish and town at the south-eastern edge of the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia.The town serves as the seat of Walcha Shire. Walcha is located 425 kilometres by road from Sydney at the intersection of the Oxley Highway and Thunderbolts Way...
.
By early December, the number of new cases had declined and it appeared that the outbreak had been effectively contained. On 22 December a substantial part of the New South Control one was promoted to a provisionally free status.
By mid February 2008 it was increasingly clear that the outbreak had been successfully controlled and, on 28 February, the NSW Government declared victory against EI, lifting most of the remaining movement restrictions on horses.
Cause
There had been no direct contact between the horses at Eastern Creek and Centennial Parklands. Veterinary surgeons suggested the virus must have been transmitted between the two locations by human error. The NSW Government blamed the Eastern Creek quarantine station and demanded the Federal Government hold an inquiry into the "biosecurity breach".Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran denied any quarantine breach and said the Maitland event "seems to be where the spread of the infection occurred".
Response and precautions
A 10 km (6 mi) quarantineQuarantine
Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
zone was declared around Eastern Creek Quarantine Station and the Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre, where the first infections were identified, on 24 August. Quarantine zones were then placed around each new infection site.
Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran ordered a 72-hour nationwide ban on all horse and harness racing on 25 August.
A national standstill was decided by the National Committee for Exotic Animal Disease to begin at 1pm on Saturday 25 August. Each state and territory was responsible for enacting the legal instrument within their borders. All horse movements were halted within New South Wales on 25 August, initially for 72 hours. The Control Order was made under the Exotic Diseases of Animals Act 1991 making it illegal to move horses. The Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
, contained wholly within New South Wales, was also declared a quarantine zone with no horse movements permitted across the border. The whole of Victoria was declared a Control Area on 25 August; shortly after, movement bans within Victoria were lifted, but bans on the import of horses and equine gear into Victoria remained until 15 January 2008. Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
imposed a 72 hour standstill. Queensland Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin declared the entire state an Equine Standstill Zone from 25 August.
The Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
government placed a 72 hour ban on horse movements from 27 August.
Sydney's Randwick Racecourse
Randwick Racecourse
Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters...
was locked down on 27 August after two horses presented with flu symptoms. Federal Primary Industries Minister Senator Ian Macdonald
Ian Macdonald (Australian politician)
Ian Douglas Macdonald , Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 1990, representing Queensland. He was born in Brisbane, Queensland, and was a solicitor before entering politics...
extended the 72 hour ban on horse movement by 7 days. The New South Wales government subsequently made the ban on horse movements and race meetings indefinite.
Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
called for an independent inquiry into the Australian quarantine system.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries warned horse owners against buying EI vaccine online as the importation of vaccines is illegal.
The Agricultural Societies Council banned horses from agricultural show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
s at Grenfell
Grenfell, New South Wales
Grenfell is a country town in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia, in Weddin Shire. It is 370 kilometres west of Sydney and five hours' drive from the city. It is close to Forbes, Cowra and Young. At the 2006 census, Grenfell had a population of 1,994.-History:Prior to European...
, Narromine
Narromine, New South Wales
Narromine is a town located about 40 kilometres west of Dubbo in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the centre of Narromine Shire. At the 2006 census, Narromine had a population of 3,599 people...
, Barmedman
Barmedman, New South Wales
Barmedman is a small rural town in the Bland Shire in the New South Wales state of Australia. It is the home of two large wheat silos with over a million bushels combined. At the 2006 census, Barmedman had a population of 227...
, Lake Cargelligo
Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales
Lake Cargelligo is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, on Lake Cargelligo. It is in Lachlan Shire. At the 2006 census, Lake Cargelligo had a population of 1,146 people. Its name is said to be a corruption of the Aboriginal word 'Kartjellakoo' meaning 'he had a...
, Finley
Finley, New South Wales
Finley is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest town in the Berrigan Shire Local Government Area. At the 2006 census, Finley had a population of 2,054 people....
, Manildra
Manildra, New South Wales
Manildra is a small town located halfway between Orange and Parkes in Cabonne Shire, New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Manildra had a population of 503.-Industries:...
, Minto
Minto, New South Wales
Minto is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Minto is located 48 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Campbelltown and is part of the Macarthur region.-History:...
and Woodstock
Woodstock, New South Wales
Woodstock is a village in the central west of New South Wales, Australia. Itcontains remains of a brief goldrush during the late 19th century which left behind a number of substantial buildings before the village relapsed into relative isolation. It includes a restored railway station, hotel,...
.
The Werribee Open Range Zoo
Werribee Open Range Zoo
Werribee Open Range Zoo is an African themed zoo in Werribee, about south-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is part of the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board or 'Zoos Victoria' which also includes Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. It is situated on approximately and is located on...
cancelled its rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros , also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia....
tour as a precaution, banned human contact with its zebra
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
s and took its horses and donkeys off public display.
On 2 September the Australian Prime Minister, the hon. John Howard, ordered a public inquiry into the outbreak of EI in Australia. Appointing retired former High Court judge Ian Callinan to conduct the inquiry, the Prime Minister stated that judge Callinan would have sweeping powers to investigate "every aspect" of the crisis. Initial reports say that 100 people are in line to be questioned in the inquiry, which is believed to be centring around the Eastern Creek quarantine station in Sydney's western suburbs.
International reaction
New Zealand biosecurity authorities announced that all imports of horses from Australia would be halted indefinitely, and all horses that had arrived since 1 August are being identified. The New Zealand TABTotalizator Agency Board
Totalisator Agency Board in Australia and New Zealand, universally shortened to TAB, is the name given to monopoly totalisator organisations. All were originally government owned...
altered meeting times on Sunday 26 August to provide some racing for the Australian betting market and have temporarily suspended early betting on the Australian Spring racing carnival.
Japanese horses were reported as being unlikely to travel to Australia for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is the name of a Melbourne, Australia Thoroughbred horse racing series held annually during October and November .-The Carnival and its status in the wider community:...
. The trainer of defending Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
winner Delta Blues
Delta Blues (horse)
Delta Blues is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2006 Melbourne Cup. He was the first Japanese horse to win the Cup. In doing so he defeated Pop Rock, another Japanese horse, also trained by Katsuhiko Sumii....
and second placegetter Pop Rock
Pop Rock (horse)
is a Japanese racehorse trained by Katsuhiko Sumii. Pop Rock is best known for having placed second in the 2006 Melbourne Cup, ridden by Damien Oliver. It was Damien Oliver's 17th time racing in the Melbourne Cup....
confirmed that both horses would not be returning to Australia in 2007.
The Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
banned imports of Australian racehorses as a precautionary measure, but praised Australia for "acting responsibly and banning the movement of horses".
Effect
James Gilkerson, President of the Australian Equine Veterinarians Association, said the horse racing and breeding industries could come to a standstill if horse flu took hold. John Messara, President of Australian Thoroughbred Breeders, said the industry would lose hundreds of millions of dollars in lost gambling revenue and stallion servicing fees. Federal Treasurer Peter CostelloPeter Costello
Peter Howard Costello AC is an Australian politician and lawyer who served as the Treasurer in the Australian government from 1996 to 2007. He is the longest-serving Treasurer in Australian history. Costello was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1990 to 2009, representing...
said "when you take into account breeders, trainers, jockeys and race meetings the outbreak will affect the economy."
Peter McGauran called for the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
to be postponed. Racing Victoria Limited
Racing Victoria Limited
Racing Victoria Limited, as the governing Principal Racing Authority, has responsibilities to develop, encourage, promote and manage the conduct of Thoroughbred horseracing in the State of Victoria, Australia...
admitted the outbreak would affect the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is the name of a Melbourne, Australia Thoroughbred horse racing series held annually during October and November .-The Carnival and its status in the wider community:...
but vowed to defy the call to postpone the Melbourne Cup. Several betting agencies temporarily suspended betting on the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
.
New South Wales police said the ban on horse movements could affect crowd control at the APEC Australia 2007
APEC Australia 2007
APEC Australia 2007 was a series of political meetings held around Australia between the 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation during 2007...
summit where mounted police were planned to be used. Mounted police patrols for APEC were cancelled on 28 August after all NSW police horses were quarantined.
By noon on 27 August, police had stopped over 100 people transporting horses in violation of the ban, and plans to bring police horses from Victoria for APEC had been scrapped.
The Parkes
Parkes, New South Wales
- Transport :Parkes has a local bus service provided by Western Road Liners, which acquired Harris Bus Lines in March 2006. The Indian Pacific also stops twice a week, as well as the Broken Hill Outback Xplorer service, run by CountryLink, which heads to Broken Hill on Mondays and Sydney on...
Show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
was cancelled after several horses in the area were diagnosed with EI and the showground was quarantined. For the second time in its 125 year history, the Birdsville Races
Birdsville Races
The Birdsville Races are horse races held each year in September in the Queensland, Australia, town of Birdsville. Funds are raised in aid of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. The population is swelled from about 100 to around 6,000 people for the two-day event.As Birdsville is very...
were called off as Queensland Racing Minister Andrew Fraser cancelled all horse racing in the state.
The Australian Racing Board agreed to move the breeding season forward by six days to ease anticipated congestion of servicing bookings once the movement ban was lifted.
The Randwick Trainers' Association ceased negotiations with the Catholic Church and the NSW Government over plans to hold a World Youth Day
World Youth Day
World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, the invitation to attend extends to all youth, regardless of religious convictions....
Papal mass at Randwick Racecourse in July 2008. Trainer John O'Shea said holding the mass at Randwick was now "out of the question" as the disruption and damage to the racecourse would multiply the damage of the EI outbreak. However, the mass went ahead, with all horses being removed from the track starting 13 June 2008 in preparation for construction work needed for the event.
The outbreak forced the cancellation of a 3-day qualifying event for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
scheduled to be held in Sydney on 13 September.
Cattle mustering in Queensland, which is often carried out on horseback, was halted due to the ban on horse movements.
The Sydney spring racing carnival was cancelled following the outbreak at Randwick racecourse. NSW horses will be prevented from travelling to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
.
The Equine Influenza has also had an ongoing effect on the Largest National Equine Endurance
Endurance
Endurance is the ability for a human or animal to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue. In humans, it is usually used in aerobic or anaerobic exercise...
Event The Shahzada
Shahzada (horse race)
The Shahzada Memorial Endurance Test is horse race that has been held annually at St. Albans, New South Wales, Australia since 1981.It is an endurance race, where competitors must complete a cross-country route....
which was to be held at St Albans NSW from 27–31 August. All horses at the event were locked down for over a week, with many competitors travelling from interstate. It has been a disaster, with many not being able to bring their highly trained animals home. Many of these horses have had to be left on properties within New South Wales.
On 23 January 2008 The Keeper of the Australian Stud Book, Michael Ford, reported that "To date, 23,305 mares have recorded coverings by 679 stallions, a decrease of 13% on last year’s 26,800 coverings." However, Mr Ford expected the gap to be narrowed to 10% after late lodgements and paddock services were received later in the season. "A depleted foal crop will have an effect on racing in two years, lasting for several years” explained Mr Ford. ”It also impacts on future foal crops in six years’ time when horses from that crop go to stud."
New South Wales was declared free of equine influenza by the state Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald
Ian Macdonald (New South Wales politician)
Ian Michael Macdonald BA MLC , a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1988 to 2010 representing the Australian Labor Party...
on 29 February 2008. Queensland, the only other state affected by the outbreak, has no infected properties and is expected to be declared EI free within a few weeks.
Callinan Report
Former judge Ian CallinanIan Callinan
Ian David Francis Callinan, AC, QC is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Education:...
was commissioned to undertake an investigation into the EI outbreak. His findings were released on 12 June 2008 in a scathing report, in which Australia's quarantine system was described as "inefficient, underfunded and lacking diligence". The new Agriculture Minister
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia)
The current Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig.-Portfolio responsibilities:The minister administers his portfolio through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and its component bodies:...
Tony Burke
Tony Burke
Anthony Stephen 'Tony' Burke is an Australian politician representing the Labor Party, and the current Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities . He first entered public office in 2003 as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council...
promised that all 38 of the report's recommendations would be implemented, and that a "massive change" in the culture of the quarantine service should occur. The federal government also appointed Professor Peter Shergold to oversee the implementation of the report's recommendations over 2009-2010.
External links
- Equine Influenza National Pests & Diseases, Australian Department of Agriculture
- Exotic Diseases in Animals Act 1991 (NSW)
- NSW Department of Primary Industries: Equine Influenza
- Tracing the equine flu trail, ABC 7.30 Report, 27 August 2007. Accessed 2007-08-28.