Riding Tours Blog

Debra from NSW, Australia corrected me on the fact that Australian horses have NOT in fact been vaccinated against influenza in the past as the country was free of the disease.

Debra says:

I quote from a paper ‘Nation Management Group: Equine Influenza Communique 13.9.07′
 
“Equine Influenza is an endemic in virtually all countries with significant equine industries, and vaccination is used to control the disease in those countries.  Australia (until recently) and New Zealand are the only countries with large equine populations free of the disease and therefore do not vaccinate.”
 
EI (Equine Influenza) was brought into Australia by a Japanese Thoroughbred Stallion.  It has spread to some areas of New South Wales and Queensland.
 
A zoning system for affected areas on the east coast has very recently been announced and horse movement is allowed within the Green Zones but still no movement across State borders.
 
We are very fortunate that we live in a green zone, however, every horse enthusiast is affected and virtually no horse events are being held at the moment on the east coast of Australia.
 
Some reliable sites for information are:
 NSW Department of Primary Industries
 
Australian Horse Industry Council

Thanks for your contribution Debra. Perhaps this is the price Australia pays for globalisation and opening its doors to the international racing/horse industry.  Or I wonder if something was missed in the quarantine of the horse? Have the authorities gotten slack?

Sarah