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Horse owners caught flouting bans

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More than 20 people have been caught flouting the 

ban on horse movements around Queensland as the 

equine influenza crisis continues into its 7th 

day. Inspector Ian Robertson, of Queensland 

Police's Stock and Rural Crime Investigation 

Squad, said 24 people had been intercepted 

transporting horses illegally since the equine standstill began.



They face a maximum penalty of $150,000 or 2 

years' jail, however it is uncertain whether any 

of those caught will be punished. Under the 

standstill, no horses of any type, including 

pets, riding club horses, show animals, donkeys, 

mules or zebras are allowed to be moved.



Inspector Robertson said despite the breaches and 

some confusion in the community about exactly 

what the ban meant, most people had obeyed the 

rules. "The standstill refers to all forms of 

horse movements including walking or riding them 

as well as transporting horses by vehicle," Inspector Robertson said.



Meanwhile, the racing industry, crippled by the 

EI outbreak, will begin its recovery in Melbourne 

today, where the 2007 Spring Racing Carnival 

kicks off at Caulfield today. The meet won't be 

without its hurdles, however. Authorities have 

been forced to establish exclusion zones within 

the racecourse to prevent contact between horse 

handlers and the public. Trainers won't be 

permitted to have any contact with owners and 

they, in turn, won't be permitted within 20 

metres [21.9 yards] of their horses.



Queensland and New South Wales remain in the grip 

of the illness, however experts agree the 

infection is of a milder strain. Most of the 700 

horses trained at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse 

are expected to succumb to EI over the next few 

days after the disease was confirmed in 8 horses there.



Experts agree the EI infections in New South 

Wales and Queensland are of a milder variety. 

Still the virus has been enough to bring the 

multi-billion dollar industry to a staggering 

halt over the past week. The costs are mounting 

day by day and racing officials are looking for 

more help after a 4 million emergency package from the federal government.



Information about the disease and the quarantine 

restrictions are available on the Department of 

Primary Industries and Fisheries website at



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[Given the stiff penalty for violation of the 

standstill order, it seems quite a risk that 

individuals are taking to move their animals or animal waste.



Equine influenza is considered an exotic disease 

in Australia and they are eradicating the disease 

from the continent. Consequently this outbreak is 

a setback for them. The fact the they are 

involved in an eradication effort may explain why 

they have elected not to vaccinate, in the sense 

that the diagnostics cannot distinguish between 

the vaccinated animal and the infected animal. 

This situation is not uncommon when a country is 

eradicating a disease, or when technology has not 

yet advanced to be able to develop diagnostics 

that distinquish between infected and vaccinated animals.





Influenza type A virus, 2 sub-types A/equi-1 and 

A/equi-2. In the same Orthomyxoviridae family as 

human and avian influenza viruses. Occurs in all 

horse species. Transmission to humans under 

natural conditions of exposure has not been reported.



The disease is endemic in Europe and North 

America, but does not occur often due to the high 

level of vaccination undertaken. Periodic 

epidemics have occurred in other parts of the 

world, including South Africa, India, China, 

Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and South America.



Equine influenza virus is rapidly spread by the 

respiratory route especially when there is close 

direct contact between horses. Infected horses 

excrete the virus in their expired air for up to 

8 days after initial infection and coughing 

contributes to the spread. There is no long term carrier state.



Equine influenza virus survives in the 

environment for up to 36 hours but is easily 

killed by cleaning and disinfection. Infection 

can be spread by contaminated horse transport 

floats, grooming and veterinary instruments. 

Wind-borne virus may spread for up to 8 km [about 

5 miles]. Outbreaks are most likely to occur when 

horses are congregated together.



Clinical signs

------------

The incubation period is 1-5 days. A fever up to 

41 Deg C [68 Deg F] is followed by a cough, which 

is dry and hacking during the first few days but 

later becomes moist and less frequent. There is a 

nasal discharge which is initially serous and 

later mucous or mucopurulent. Affected horses can 

be lethargic, easily fatigued and lose their 

appetite. If the animal is rested, recovery is 

complete in 1-3 weeks. The disease is 

particularly severe in donkeys. Deaths are rare 

unless secondary respiratory infections occur.



Laboratory samples

----------------------

Specimens of nasal discharges should be collected 

from early clinical cases to isolate the virus. 

The nasal passages can be washed out with sterile 

normal saline to which 10 percent brain-heart 

infusion broth has been added and antibiotics 

(obtain from a veterinary laboratory). 

Alternatively a deep nasal swab is inserted and 

placed in the same solution as above. Serum and 

clotted blood samples should be collected from 

horses showing early clinical signs, and repeat 

blood samples from the same horses 2-4 weeks later.



Differential diagnosis

-----------------

The main features of equine influenza are the 

explosiveness of outbreaks, the high number of 

infected horses and the prominence of coughing. 

rhinopneumonitis, equine viral arteritis, 

Pasteurellosis, strangles, other bacterial infections.



Outbreaks of this disease in Australia will be 

controlled according to the nationally agreed 

AUSVETPLAN. The initial measure is to control 

movements of all horses in order to minimize 

spread of the disease. Vaccination of at-risk 

animals may be used to contain the spread of the 

disease and build up immunity in the horse population.



The most important treatment is complete rest for 

2-3 weeks. A dust-free environment is desirable. 

Supportive therapy, such as antibiotics, 

expectorants and cough suppressants, is 

administered if required. During an outbreak, it 

may be necessary to destroy a small number of 

horses that have severe secondary infections. All 

horse industries and subsidiary industries are 

affected with considerable economic consequences. 

The major effect is on racing and other 

equestrian competitions, breeding, shows and 

sales because of movement restrictions. Exports 

of horses and equine products may be banned to 

some countries until the disease is contained.





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The movement of animals without an inspector's 

approval is against the law and the maximum 

penalty for contravention of an Equine Standstill 

Zone is currently 150 000 AUD [122 792 USD] or 2 years imprisonment.



It has been agreed that all states and 

territories will implement a standstill on the 

movement of horses. This standstill is in place 

until revoked by the minister. No equine events 

and gatherings can take place during the standstill.



Horse owners must not move horses from their 

properties. They should keep themselves informed 

contact between your horses and other horses. 

Race meetings and other horse events have been called off in Australian states.





There are vaccines overseas but none will be 

available for use in the short term, especially 

since vaccination can complicate the diagnosis of 

the disease. Biosecurity Queensland is working to 

eradicate the infection, so that permanent 

vaccination of horses in Australia will not be required.



This information is taken from the AUSVETPLAN for 

Equine Influenza which can be obtained from Animal Health Australia.



The recommendation for treatment of EI is that 

horses are rested in a dust-free, well-ventilated 

environment and receive supportive therapy.  At 

least 30 days complete rest is recommended after 

infection, with a longer period being required if 

the fever extends for more than 4 days. Rest 

reduces the opportunity for secondary infection and hastens complete recovery.



Supportive treatment is important to minimise 

complications and includes expectorants, cough 

suppressants and mucolytics. Antipyretics and 

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be 

indicated in stallions or pregnant mares with 

very high fevers, to avoid testicular 

degeneration in the former or abortion in the 

latter. Treatment of secondary bacterial 

infections with antibiotics may be indicated, 

particularly if fever persists for longer than 

4-5 days and is accompanied by increasingly 

abundant and thick nasal discharge. Hyperimmune 

serum collected from recently recovered (more 

than14 days since recovery) adult horses may be a 

useful therapy for young foals.



Currently there is no specific antiviral 

treatment registered for use for treatment of EI.

- Mod.TG]



Equine influenza - Australia (NSW, QLD)  20070829.2836

Equine influenza - Australia (NSW)  20070829.2829

Equine Influenza, equine - Australia ex Japan (02)  20070825.2798

Equine influenza, confirmed - Australia (ex Japan)  20070824.2787

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