NEW GROUP JOINS CO-ORDINATED PROGRAM TO ERADICATE EI
Published Tuesday, 16 October, 2007 at 02:48 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
A newly-formed working party will work with the Queensland Government to help ensure a coordinated response to the equine influenza outbreak, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.
Mr Mulherin said the group representing the Performance and Pleasure Horse Industry would help the Government get key information about biosecurity measures and assistance programs to this group of stakeholders and respond to their concerns.
The committee includes representatives from areas as diverse as pony clubs, horse exporters and saddle retailers.
The Queensland Horse Council is also represented on the working party.
“The formation of this working party is a major step forward in enabling the Government to work with a wide range of industries affected by EI,” Mr Mulherin said.
“We were already considering their needs in our response to EI, but this group will ensure that there is effective two-way communication with the people affected so that we are all working in partnership.
“Many of the people which this group represents do not use computers so they do not have access to the wealth of information about EI on the DPI&F website. This has been identified as a gap and we are addressing it.”
Mr Mulherin said it was vital that all Queenslanders involved with horses continued to follow proper biosecurity practices.
“We have contained this highly contagious virus in the Red Zone and we are still confident of keeping it contained, so that it will burn itself out,” he said.
“There continues to be a strong commitment nationally and in Queensland to eradicating this disease.
“The strict movement controls are very effective, but we still need people to take appropriate action to prevent spreading the disease.”
The commitment to eradication was based on the fact that, although the current response is costly, it would be far more damaging and costly having to deal with re-occurrences of the disease on an ongoing basis.
People who have come into contact with horses should wash with water and soap and change their clothing, including hats and footwear, before coming into contact with other horses.
The EI vaccination program is proceeding on schedule with horses in the buffer zone receiving top priority, along with high risk, and high value horses in the red zone.
Media:
Minister’s office 3239 6530
DPI&F 3224 8837
Mr Mulherin said the group representing the Performance and Pleasure Horse Industry would help the Government get key information about biosecurity measures and assistance programs to this group of stakeholders and respond to their concerns.
The committee includes representatives from areas as diverse as pony clubs, horse exporters and saddle retailers.
The Queensland Horse Council is also represented on the working party.
“The formation of this working party is a major step forward in enabling the Government to work with a wide range of industries affected by EI,” Mr Mulherin said.
“We were already considering their needs in our response to EI, but this group will ensure that there is effective two-way communication with the people affected so that we are all working in partnership.
“Many of the people which this group represents do not use computers so they do not have access to the wealth of information about EI on the DPI&F website. This has been identified as a gap and we are addressing it.”
Mr Mulherin said it was vital that all Queenslanders involved with horses continued to follow proper biosecurity practices.
“We have contained this highly contagious virus in the Red Zone and we are still confident of keeping it contained, so that it will burn itself out,” he said.
“There continues to be a strong commitment nationally and in Queensland to eradicating this disease.
“The strict movement controls are very effective, but we still need people to take appropriate action to prevent spreading the disease.”
The commitment to eradication was based on the fact that, although the current response is costly, it would be far more damaging and costly having to deal with re-occurrences of the disease on an ongoing basis.
People who have come into contact with horses should wash with water and soap and change their clothing, including hats and footwear, before coming into contact with other horses.
The EI vaccination program is proceeding on schedule with horses in the buffer zone receiving top priority, along with high risk, and high value horses in the red zone.
Media:
Minister’s office 3239 6530
DPI&F 3224 8837