At present there are 53 known infected premises in NSW including Randwick Race Course, with a total of around 500 horses on the infected premises. There are a further 2335 horses suspected of having Equine Influenza on a total of 213 properties.
A useful fact sheet from the Qld DPI.
Click HERE to access the fact sheet.
Other useful information:
Feeding horses when movement restrictions apply
Foal management - practical advice for horse owners
There are currently 51 declared infected premises including Randwick Race Course. A total of 490 horses are on the infected premises.
NSW remains a control area and the control order prohibiting horses from travelling into and anywhere within NSW remains in place.
A total of eight out of ten thoroughbreds from a stable at Randwick Racecourse have tested positive to Equine Influenza. NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald is seeking an urgent meeting with his Federal counterpart to discuss assistance measures for the industry.
Test results from Dubbo, Newcastle, Rosehill and Warwick Farm are all clear.
There are now 18 Restricted Areas, and 488 infected horses on 41 known properties across NSW.
New Restricted Areas include Lake Macquarie, Terry Hie Hie, East Maitland (Thompson St), Timbumburi, Eagleton (Newline Rd), Hornsby and McCullys Gap.
A Randwick Racecourse horse tested positive for equine influenza.
Additional samples from the horse are are being tested at Menangle and a sample has been sent to the Australian Animal Health Laboratories (AAHL) in Geelong for additional confirmation.
An additional five restricted areas have been established today bringing the total to 11 restricted areas at:
• Within 10km radius of Gill Street, Moonbi
• Within 10km radius of Woonooka Road, Moonbi
• Within 10km radius of Aberdeen (Upper Hunter)
• Within 10km radius of Anambah (near Maitland)
• Within 10km radius of a property near Camurra, Newell Highway, Moree
• Within 10km radius of Broughton Village (near Berry)
• Within 10km radius of Parkes Showground
• Within 10km radius of Mount Hunter (near Camden)
• Within 10km radius of 20 Yarraman Rd, Muswellbrook
• Centennial Park and Redfern - within the local government areas administered by Councils at Ashfield, Botany Bay, Burwood Council, Canada Bay, Canterbury, Leichhardt, Randwick, Rockdale, Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra.
• North West Sydney Metropolitan within the local government areas administered by Councils at Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Fairfield, Gosford, Hawkesbury, Holroyd, Penrith and Wyong.
Currently, there are six restricted areas in NSW – three around the Sydney area and others near Parkes in the Central West, Berry (near Nowra) on the south coast, Moonbi (near Tamworth) in the north west. The exact locations of the Restricted Areas for Equine Influenza in NSW are:
• The Local Government Areas in north west Sydney administered by Councils at Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Fairfield, Gosford, Hawkesbury, Holroyd, Penrith and Wyong
• The Local Government Areas around Centennial Park including Sydney, Woollahra, Randwick, Waverly, Botany Bay, Leichhardt, Marrickville, and the eastern parts of Canterbury, Ashfield, Rockdale and Canada Bay.
• within 10km radius of Mount Hunter
• within 10km radius of Parkes Showground
• within 10km radius of Broughton Village (via Berry)
• within 10km radius of Moonbi
There is a standstill on all horse movements across the whole State but within these Restricted Areas there is ALSO a requirement for a permit to move horses, horse vehicles and equipment. The standstill also applies to mules, donkeys and other animals in the horse family.
People and other animals can move freely anywhere in the State, except across official quarantine lines on the infected properties.
A total of six police horses at Redfern Police Depot have tested positive to the flu and are now under quarantine. This means that these mounted horses can not be moved from the centre for up to two months.
Last night a State Government taskforce was established to ensure support services in place to help affected horse owners cope with the impact of quarantine and movement restrictions. Through this taskforce Department of Community Services, NSW Health, Ministry of Transport, Department of Local Government and NSW Gaming and Racing are complementing the massive efforts of the Department and NSW Police.
The NSW Government has also agreed to help meet the costs associated with providing feed and any emergency veterinary services to horses affected by movement restrictions. The emergency management support staff will also assist owners who wish or need to stay in the same areas as their horses find accommodation. Owners that are staying on site are being advised to decontaminate themselves before leaving the area to purchase food and other necessities. RSPCA is providing help in caring for those horses involved in the lockdown.
Tests carried out yesterday on three racehorses at Randwick came back negative. Veterinarians and tracing officers are continuing to work around the clock to determine the extent of the infections affecting horses across the State. Currently, there are eleven confirmed infected properties and 48 other locations where horses are suspected of being infected. Suspect properties are located in the Sydney, Hunter, and in the north west of the State.
Movements of horses continue to be prohibited from travelling anywhere in NSW and all race meetings have been cancelled, as have all known sales, shows and other events, within the State.
Tests are being carried out on two horses at Randwick racecourse after they were found to be exhibiting signs of equine influenza this morning.
Results are expected to become available later this evening.
All known infections have been in the leisure and eventing horse industry and this is the first indication that the virus may have entered the thoroughbred racing industry in Australia.
Currently, there are eight confirmed infected properties and sick horses at 50 other locations, with 15 of those suspected of being infected.
Suspect properties are located in the Sydney region at Randwick, Camden, Londonderry, Box Hill, Concord and Arcadia; in the Hunter at Aberdeen, Gloucester, Wybong, Muswellbrook; and in the north west at Moree.
Nearly 200 owners of horses attending a large equestrian jumping and cross-country event held just north of Lochinvar, west of Maitland, on 18-19 August have been contact and their horses are being examined.
All horse movements in NSW continue to be banned while further tracing is urgently being undertaken. 415 horses have been held on five properties around NSW to help contain the disease and stop its further spread.
Equine influenza (EI) is considered to be present in a number of locations in NSW on the basis of clinical signs and laboratory test results.
A horse stand-still has been implemented in the whole of NSW and the whole state declared a Control Area for equine influenza ie all horse movements in NSW have been halted.
No horses of any type, including pets, riding club and show animals and donkeys, are permitted to travel anywhere in NSW. The issue of movement permits for urgent horse movements have been implemented.
All events involving horses (including race meetings) have been cancelled, as have all known sales and shows and other events within NSW.
