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  Discussion on Equine Flu hits Australia
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Member:
sherm

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 5, 2007 - 8:45 pm:

Hi Dr O,
You may not be aware but as of Mid August there has been a severe outbreak of equine flu in Australia. The whole country is virtually on lockdown with major outbreaks in NSW and QLD stopping all racing and pleasure horse activities as well as Olympic selection trials and all horse movement between properties. It is our breeding season here so you can just imagine what this has done to the horse industry as a whole. We all suspect that it is only a matter of time before it spreads through the whole country even with the best efforts of all involved. The outbreak is the same strain as one just recently in Japan and is thought to have arrived here through a breach of quarantine from a japanese horse. My main query, as we know so little about it, is how is it transmitted. It is obviously highly contagious being spread by people not only horses. How long is the disease viable if being transmitted by people ie: does is stay on clothing etc for what length of time, does it stay alive within manure etc, can it stay viable on tack etc and for what length of time. Any information will be valuable to us.

Thanks for your time and a wonderfully informative website
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Sep 6, 2007 - 9:28 am:

Wow Sherill, this is likely to be a very big deal as Australian horses are influenza naive, meaning most have not been exposed and that their immune system will not be protective. Here is a pretty good article published 6 days ago:

Equine Flu in Australia Costs Millions

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — Human error was likely responsible for the spread of equine influenza which has hit two Australian states, curtailing horse racing and costing millions of dollars in lost jobs and revenue, Australia federal agriculture minister Peter McGauran said Friday.

"It's going to be human error, there's no question, but were the quarantine procedures adequate?" McGauran said in a radio interview.

Investigators are working to determine how the highly-contagious illness, first detected at the Eastern Creek quarantine center in New South Wales state, spread so quickly. The disease is thought to have arrived with a consignment of horses from Japan on Aug. 8 and investigators are trying to identify people, vehicles and equipment which contacted those horses.

McGauran is under pressure to call for a public inquiry into the failures of biosecurity and quarantine which allowed equine influenza to enter the country. At the same time, the federal government faces calls for compensation from the racing and equestrian industries.

Federal authorities have already approved $3.3 million in emergency relief but horse racing and equestrian officials say that amount is inadequate to address hardship caused by the outbreak.

The suspension of horse racing in New South Wales and Queensland states, bans on horse movements and other quarantine initiatives could cost thousands of jobs and millions in lost earnings or revenue, according to industry officials.

"The losses to individuals and small businesses will be immense, remember it's a massive industry," McGauran said. "There's been some big figures banded about, certainly hundreds of millions. Well that's wagering, but if you look at how somebody's income has been affected, well that's a different thing."

Prime Minister John Howard said the Australian government would likely provide further relief to those affected by the outbreak.

"It is a very serious threat to a wonderful industry and I have kept in touch very closely with (agriculture minister) Peter McGauran who is handling a difficult situation well," Howard said. "More assistance will be provided if it's needed, and I believe will be needed."

Federal opposition leader Kevin Rudd pressed the government Friday to step up assistance while investigating the outbreak.

"We face a bigger challenge than this," Rudd said. "I believe we have to get to the bottom of how this breach of Australian quarantine has occurred."

Equine influenza has been found in at least 488 horses in New South Wales and more than 1,600 others are expected to become infected. Most are recreational horses but the disease has now been discovered in eight thoroughbred racehorses at the Randwick race course in Sydney.

The course has been locked down and Sydney's lucrative spring racing carnival has already been abandoned.


Expecting a lot of questions I will edit the article on influenza to answer your very pertinent questions and others not asked yet. It should be up by tomorrow. The one question I have not seen answered anywhere yet is what strain of the flu virus is present.
DrO
Member:
hwood

Posted on Thursday, Sep 6, 2007 - 10:56 am:

Sherrill,
A scary thing for you and I hope that you will escape the virus.
I hope that there will be a minimal number of horses effected.
I can't help but think, though, with the other discussions about The State of the Industry and others, that maybe some of the good, homeless horses here in the U.S. may find homes in Austrailia if the need arises.
Member:
kthorse

Posted on Thursday, Sep 6, 2007 - 6:14 pm:

I have been following this since it started as I am a member of an Aussie endurance group. Horses are not allowed of properties . A big endurance race was canceled and all the horses were quarantined and they were not allowed to leave the camp site for days, people had to camp with their horses at the starting point. They have finally been given the go ahead to return home with papers. No horse floats are allowed on the road without papers and clearance. Its very serious. In Australia they dont have many contagious diseases and so for them this is very serious. They dont have 1/4 of what we have here. When I moved to America I was so suprised by all the things horses can spread. I have no idea what strain it is. Most horse events are cancelled for months. It must be bad.
Sherill good luck over there and keep us informed.
Member:
sherm

Posted on Thursday, Sep 6, 2007 - 9:29 pm:

Thanks Dr O any knowledge will be invaluable. As of today there have been 2 new outbreaks in our major T/Bred breeding area in NSW, 2 major studs are affected. This is what everyone was worried about as information tells us that EI can be fatal in foals. All horse events throughout the country are being cancelled, although only 2 states are affected. There is a push from the racing industry to hold some race meetings in those areas within those states that dont have the infection......yet!!!. Amazing what pushing from powerful money can do!!. For us Dressage, Show, Eventing types we have no choice but to put everything on hold and hope that holding these meetings doesnt spread the disease to those places that done have it. The major feeling is that its a matter of time for the spread to occur and its just waiting...there is always some idiot that thinks they are above the rules the rest of us are abiding by.

This truly is a National disaster, we have always taken a quiet sense of pride in the fact that we dont have a lot of diseases that other countries do, partly due to our tough quarantine regulations and partly due to our location. Well, we cant take any pride in our quartantine now!!. How amazing that just one little slip up can cause such widespread damage. A lesson for sure.

Will keep you posted.
New Member:
comlodge

Posted on Thursday, Sep 6, 2007 - 9:43 pm:

Hi All

Janice O from Queensland. The strain is Influenza A - the same as the current outbreak in Japan.
It has now affected over 120 properties in NSW with more being reported every day and more than 40 properties in Qld.
It is foaling season here - not good.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 7, 2007 - 7:32 am:

I have added information to the article to help answer questions about transmission. Janice I believe all equine flu viruses are designated strain A but within this strain there are different subtypes which may have importance as to what is the most effective vaccine. The first big division is the European and North American strains but nowadays both forms are found on both continents and presumably around the world. They have now both been further subdivided... Praque... Kentucky... others... back to the books this morning and I will put what I find in the article.
DrO
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 7, 2007 - 1:23 pm:

All right guys for those interested in Equine Influenza strains and their prevalence we have greatly expanded those sections though it is somewhat technical.
DrO
New Member:
comlodge

Posted on Friday, Sep 7, 2007 - 4:38 pm:

Hi Dr O

You are right about the A bit - they have apparently not yet identified the specific strain from my readings tho official news from our Depts of Ag is a little slow - I think the pooy guys and gals are strained to the absolute limit.
AQIS our quarantine site has stock standard scripts - perhaps they are spending their time trying to cover themselves for having let it out.
As thisis breeding season affects on foals is obviously of high concern and I was wondering what the reinfection rate is like.
Is it likely for a farm to be reinfected after all thier horses have recovered but it turns up in the neighbours down the road.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Sep 8, 2007 - 8:18 am:

That is a questions that depend on many variables Janice, particularly with respect to strain, vaccination, age of the horse. Following a course of influenza, horses will be quite immune for a year or two to the same strain and thereafter tend to have less severe signs if reinfected.
DrO
New Member:
comlodge

Posted on Sunday, Sep 9, 2007 - 6:04 am:

Hi Dr O

At least it sounds like you have a period of grace before a possible return.
Can you tell me please what is the policy in the states as far as vaccination - is it compulsory, and do you lockdown an area if there is an outbreak.
The authorities here agoing for containment and eradication tho I am not sure how this will happen when the disease is obviously airborne and they are not pulling horse in to give a non horsey buffer zone.
Obviously we would be so much better off if we can get rid of it. Did the states try to get rid of it or was it jsut too big?

Janice
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Sep 9, 2007 - 8:44 am:

Vaccination is not compulsory nor do they quarantine for influenza, it is considered a pretty natural event that is just part of every growing performance horse and to be ameliorated through vaccine.
DrO
New Member:
comlodge

Posted on Sunday, Sep 9, 2007 - 3:58 pm:

Thanks Dr O.
That is more or less what an Aussie said on the radio last night. He has a stable of harness racers in the states and said we should just let it run here.
I have reread your articles on flu and vaccination, routines, nsaids and it is a bit depressing but it really seems similar to the flus/viruses that we cope with now in our equines and i wonder if it would be so virulent here if it were not for the naive population.
Certainly the outbreaks in Italy and England amongst recent immunised populations point the finger at the immunisation.
The outbreak is currently about 30klm from us with horse farms in every direction back to it so we are expecting it to reach here in a week or so even though the authorities are saying nothing.
We have 32 horses here on a breeding farm with two mares due to foal at the end of this month and another 5 in December. We have yearlings to late 20 years old in our herd. We do not border any properties with horses but that seems to be of little consequence.
I guess all we can do is wait and hope that our otherwise healthy herd will cope when it does hit.

Janice
Member:
pbauer

Posted on Sunday, Sep 9, 2007 - 5:27 pm:

Dear Sherrill,


You stated:

"There is a push from the racing industry to hold some race meetings in those areas within those states that dont have the infection......yet!!!. Amazing what pushing from powerful money can do!!."

I say:

"Don't let them get away with it; band people together...and push back harder...hardest!"

Big money doesn't get it done, but an outcry to God, and from many people will!

And when you talk about big money... no one compares to God. Please remember this:

For everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. (1 Chronicles 29:11) in the Bible~

The world is mine, and all that is in it (Psalm 50:12) in the Bible.


Loaves and Fishes,
Tonya
New Member:
comlodge

Posted on Sunday, Sep 9, 2007 - 6:43 pm:

Hi All,

Can I just say that the race meetings that they are holding are restricted to horses at the tracks involved or stabled within walking distance.
The Harness Racing board in Queensland looked at a possible meeting at one of their tracks but abandoned plans as there were not enough oncourse horses to hold an event.
The flu is only (only is so hard to write here when i live in one of them) in two states now - New South Wales and Queensland. Other states have put restrictions in place and are practicising strict bio security measures at their racecourses.
State borders have been closed and racing personnel from NSW or Queensland are not permitted on interstate tracks.
There is a movement here from some in the racing industry to let the virus run and to vaccinate.
This is not the official stance and heavy fines are in place for those caught contravening the law.

Janice
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