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Australian Equine Flu Report

Written by Cian MacSweeny
Monday, 16 June 2008
Brendan Smith, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has welcomed the findings of the report of the Inquiry into last year's outbreak of equine flu (EI) issued by the Australian authorities this week. The report on the inquiry essentially clears Ireland as being the cause of the virus and the main focus of the report is on a breakdown in biosecurity procedures, which are central to the effective operation and management of import quarantine systems. The outbreak of disease then resulted in the first ever cases of Equine Influenza (EI) in the states of New South Wales and Victoria, Australia in August 2007. This was also the greatest disease threat that Australia's horseracing industry had ever encountered, resulting in major disruption of and cost to the entire Australian equine industry. Minister Smith noted that 15 prestigious Irish stallions that had been sent to Australia for the breeding season were stuck there in a prolonged “lock down” of the quarantine stations where they were sequestered. “From Ireland's perspective the outcome is very positive” said the Minister “in that, the report finds that the most probable explanation for the origin of the outbreak, based on the epidemiological evidence, is that it came from horses that originated in Japan where there had also been an outbreak of EI and not from stallions originating in Ireland as had been suggested at the outset of the Inquiry”. Minister Smith noted that his Department's veterinary service had made a detailed submission to the Inquiry and added that he was "pleased to report that Ireland's position as outlined in the statement provided to the independent inquiry is totally vindicated. This is particularly important given the high reputation of the Irish blood stock industry." He noted the importance of adhering to high veterinary and biosecurity standards, saying that he equine flu outbreak in Australia and the Equine Infectious Anaemia outbreak here in 2006 are reminders of how easily animal diseases can arise and spread. The Minister concluded saying “I have noted that the recommendations of the Inquiry includes proposals for the tightening up of pre-export quarantine conditions for all countries exporting to Australia and I am confident that the Irish veterinary service will be able to implement any revised conditions that may arise.” Equine Influenza (EI) is described as an “acute, highly contagious viral disease which can cause rapidly spreading outbreaks of respiratory disease in horses, donkeys and mules and other equine species”. It is not normally fatal to horses.
Last Updated ( Monday, 16 June 2008 )

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