NSW DPI Update 23 October

ERADICATION OF EQUINE INFLUENZA

Rod Hoare from Industry Liaison summarises the campaign towards eradication so far:

"From Day One NSW DPI and other authorities have been working towards eradication of EI. How could Australia do this when Europe and America have not been able to eradicate it? South Africa and India have eradicated the disease: what are our chances?

NSW DPI and their many collaborators had some initial problems:

• The initial spread of infection prior to standstill was very widespread and into areas of high horse density.
• No vaccine supplies were on hand, no approvals were available, and vaccines would be a month coming.
• We did not know how the disease would spread under Australian conditions.
• The disease came at the worst time of the year – just before breeding season, just before foaling, in cool weather assisting survival of the virus. Spread from property to property occurred in the cool morning mists up to about 3 km.

NSW DPI and collaborators also had many advantages:

• NSW DPI staff and supporting agencies such as the Rural Fire Service are well trained in emergency response and did respond quickly.
• There was an AUSVETPLAN for EI.
• An excellent test (PCR test for presence of virus) was available, and a capacity to test up to 1000 samples overnight.
• The new generation of vaccines produces effective immunity against the strain in Australia after the first injection.

What progress has been made?

• The geographic area of Australia affected by equine influenza has not changed much in the past 6 weeks.
• There have been three new groups of infection in the green zone but these have now been contained with vaccination buffers.
• Now that adequate vaccine supplies are available, it is possible to respond more quickly and effectively to put out the spot fire situations.
• Vaccine supplies are still limited. Sending vaccine to uninfected states is like sending water tankers away from the fire front - highest priority for vaccine is where the disease is likely to occur.
• The daily number of new infected properties is much lower than it was mid September.
• The majority of infections are now occurring in previously infected areas and within vaccination buffers.
• A small proportion of Australia's horses have been exposed to EI virus - less than 10% of the total horse population.
• More horses are becoming immune to EI daily after recovering from EI infection or to the effects of vaccination.
• The first round of EI vaccinations in the buffer zones in NSW is more than 70% complete. The boundaries of some of the red and amber interfaces in NSW are to be replaced by amber and green zones respectively. The plan is to have all high risk horses in the NSW purple zone immune to EI due to infection or vaccination by 30 November 2007.
• Scenario analysis indicates that the outbreak is running below the mid-range prediction curve, and well below the worst case curve.
• The best guess prediction is that EI will be eradicated by 30 June 2008. This will depend on compliance with personal biosecurity.

The conclusion is that eradication is well on track and remains the number one priority.

SITUATION UPDATE

A new infection in the northern part of the Dubbo vaccination buffer area will mean a extension on the red zone in that area. All other infected properties reported in the past 24 hours are in the Red and Purple Zones.

Today’s statistics: 4967 Infected Properties (IPs); 458 Dangerous Contact Properties (DCPs); 476 Suspect Properties (SPs); 7161 horses out of the target of 13476 have been vaccinated in the buffer areas so far.

Surveillance testing is currently being implemented at Coonamble, Coonabarabran, Berry, Walcha and Gloucester Tops. Zone re-adjustments are planned as the testing progresses to confirm which isolated red zones are free of the disease. The required testing is quite extensive and will take up to two weeks to finalize.

Horse owners are reminded that observing the recommended biosecurity measures for personal hygiene is critical for the EI eradication campaign to be successful. Ensuring that people entering your property have undertaken the necessary personal hygiene recommendations is the easiest way to protect your horses.

In response to the confusion surrounding the responsibilities of individuals when crossing zone boundaries, the RTA have placed mobile signs on some boundaries to notify the travelling public of the zone they are entering or leaving.

Registration of infected horses

To date 6559 horse locations have been registered in the EI database. Horse registrations provide vital data for planning how to eradicate EI. Horse owners are reminded that infected horses must be registered with the DPI. Registration forms can be found on the DPI website here:

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/influenza/information/horse-owners-restricted-areas/form

Survey of uninfected horses

Horse owners are reminded that the survey of uninfected horses in the Red or Purple Zones has been extended. If you are in these zones and have uninfected horses, please complete the survey at: www.surveymaster.com/AHIC/Q1.asp

Vaccinations

Vaccination of the prioritised horses identified by the Australian Horse Industry Council uninfected horse survey will commence in the Purple Zone after Wednesday 24 October. The operation will be coordinated by the Local Disease Control Centre (LDCC) using the existing Forward Command Posts (FCP).

The EFA have commenced vaccinations of EFA registered horses in the Purple Zone. They will also be vaccinating all other horses present on the property during the visit.

Current information on the vaccination program can be found at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza/vaccination

Movement of horses

To date, there have been 3604 movement permits issued by the Local Disease Control Centre (LDCC). The movement of horses for training in the Amber Zone has been assessed and there have been some modifications granted to the movement restrictions. The relevant changes to the movement restrictions are published on the web at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/influenza/movements/amber-zone

Current information on the guidelines for the all movements of horses can be found at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza/movements

Community meetings

As of Monday 22 October 31 community information meetings have been held, with over 3000 people attending.

The community meetings organised for this week are:

• Tuesday 23 October: Gloucester, Blayney, Bathurst and West Wyalong
• Wednesday 24 October: Albion Park, Mangrove Mountain, Cessnock, Oberon and Coolamon.
• Thursday 25 October: Rylstone, Goulburn, Armidale and Temora.

For information about community meetings and future meeting dates see: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza/meetings

IN THE NEWS

Nine EI Decontamination points for horse transport vehicles - The NSW DPI now has nine Equine Influenza (EI) decontamination points operating across NSW.

Horse flu vaccinations underway in Scone and Merriwa - The first horses, ponies and donkeys in the Scone and Merriwa buffers have today received their initial equine influenza (EI) shots as part of the NSW eradication plan.

EI: Temora owners recognised for good biosecurity - Two hundred Temora horses have returned negative test results for equine influenza (EI) as local horse owners adopt strict biosecurity to stamp out EI.

RESOURCES

New information for veterinarians to describe the reporting process for suspected new infections in the Purple Zone has been developed. This information is to assist veterinarians in being time-efficient in reporting new infections. It can be found at: