Latest DPI Update - 14 September

NSW

There are 841 infected properties with a total of 8353 horses; 357 dangerous contact properties with 2731 horses; and 257 suspect properties with 1809 horses. New infections have shown up in places that were expected, either found through tracing or caused by lateral spread to nearby properties.

Owners and vets are reporting ongoing property-to-property spread in the Hunter region. There are concerns that some owners may not be bothering to report signs of disease because they were expecting it to occur.

19 barrier trials were conducted at Warwick Farm without incident.

Racing is planned for Newcastle (Broadmeadow) this weekend. Rose Hill racing is now planned for 22 September. It is anticipated that horses from Warwick Farm will race at Rose Hill. These meetings are held subject to stringent quarantine and daily monitoring of all horses involved at the tracks. Racing will only be allowed while the horses remain healthy.

Eradication is still considered feasible and worthwhile, with less than 5% of the estimated 170,000 horses in NSW testing positive to the disease. A clear majority of the horse population is located in areas of the state not currently affected by the EI outbreak.