SES VOLUNTEERS JOIN THE EI FIGHT

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts announced today that volunteers from the State Emergency Service (SES) have joined efforts to contain the Equine Influenza (EI) outbreak.

“Volunteers from the SES have started work in a monitoring capacity to report any horse movements in the area surrounding the restricted zone, and yesterday 18 SES crews began mobile patrols of the area” he said.

The crews are operating in the vicinity of Westmar, Talwood, Meandarra, The Gums, Tara, Warra, Jandowae, Bunya Mountains and St George.

Mr Roberts said all branches of the Emergency Services have now taken part in the effort to contain EI.

Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ), the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) have all provided staff and resources.

Mr Roberts said South West Region QFRS have provided a fire spotting aircraft to cover the area from Crows Nest to Stanthorpe to Tara and assist in aerial surveys of the area and South West Region QAS are also assisting with reporting any movements of horses.

“As well as this, around 43 EMQ staff have been involved in the operation during the last three weeks, this has been boosted by the addition of the SES volunteers who will fill a supporting role,” he said.

“This cooperation demonstrates the whole of government commitment to eradicating EI. Efforts by the Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries so far have managed to restrict the spread of this disease and it is now important we can eradicate it for good.”

Media contact: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571.

Brendan Connell 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976