Published Tuesday, 29 January, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
More zone changes as equine influenza nears eradication in Queensland
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today Queensland was accelerating towards becoming Equine Influenza free with the Green Zone that covers most of the state poised to revert to a White Zone.
White is the classification that has been used for unaffected states and allows free movement of horses between these areas.
Mr Mulherin said from February 1, 2008 there would be even greater freedom of movement for horse owners and industries.
“The last five months have been really tough for horse owners and for the industries that rely on them, but everyone’s hard work has finally paid off,’’ he said.
“The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries strategy of strict movement conditions, good biosecurity and the vaccination program, combined with the cooperation of Queensland horse owners has brought us to the point of eradication a lot sooner than we had hoped.
“There have been no new cases of infection reported since Christmas, and the longer we go without seeing new cases the more confident we are that the disease has burnt out.
“These rapid developments mean tremendous news for Green Zone horse owners, who will be able to move their horses within the White Zone and to unaffected states without testing and quarantine requirements from February 1, 2008. A waybill or other documentation required by the destination state will still be needed.
“If everything continues to go well and our surveillance doesn’t find anything of concern, the plan of attack is to also accelerate other changes.”
Mr Mulherin said the accelerated program should also see the Amber Zone in the south east corner revert to White in late February.
“The schedule follows a meeting of the National Management Group, attended by DPI&F Director-General Mr Jim Varghese, which endorsed plans for an accelerated recovery program in Queensland and New South Wales.’’
“It also builds on the success of DPI&F’s vaccination and containment program, which has seen the disease restricted to the south east corner of the state. ‘’
As well as changes to the Green Zone, the accelerated eradication program will see:
• Queensland’s Red Zone, the area that includes all known infected properties and has the most stringent movement restrictions, reclassified as a Green Zone by mid March 2008, provided all goes well. This would mean that horses could move freely within that zone as long as they have a waybill, a document easily downloaded from the DPI&F website. Minimal movement conditions are envisaged for movement out of the zone at that time.
• Queensland’s Amber Zone should become part of the White Zone on 20 February
• A strong possibility of Queensland being declared completely free of EI by June 2008.
However, it is still crucial that any suspect cases of equine influenza are reported to a local vet or DPI&F immediately.
Details of what the new changes will mean for horse owners are available on the DPI&F website www.dpi.qld.gov.au or by calling 13 25 23.
Media:
Minister’s office 32396530
DPI&F 32393010
White is the classification that has been used for unaffected states and allows free movement of horses between these areas.
Mr Mulherin said from February 1, 2008 there would be even greater freedom of movement for horse owners and industries.
“The last five months have been really tough for horse owners and for the industries that rely on them, but everyone’s hard work has finally paid off,’’ he said.
“The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries strategy of strict movement conditions, good biosecurity and the vaccination program, combined with the cooperation of Queensland horse owners has brought us to the point of eradication a lot sooner than we had hoped.
“There have been no new cases of infection reported since Christmas, and the longer we go without seeing new cases the more confident we are that the disease has burnt out.
“These rapid developments mean tremendous news for Green Zone horse owners, who will be able to move their horses within the White Zone and to unaffected states without testing and quarantine requirements from February 1, 2008. A waybill or other documentation required by the destination state will still be needed.
“If everything continues to go well and our surveillance doesn’t find anything of concern, the plan of attack is to also accelerate other changes.”
Mr Mulherin said the accelerated program should also see the Amber Zone in the south east corner revert to White in late February.
“The schedule follows a meeting of the National Management Group, attended by DPI&F Director-General Mr Jim Varghese, which endorsed plans for an accelerated recovery program in Queensland and New South Wales.’’
“It also builds on the success of DPI&F’s vaccination and containment program, which has seen the disease restricted to the south east corner of the state. ‘’
As well as changes to the Green Zone, the accelerated eradication program will see:
• Queensland’s Red Zone, the area that includes all known infected properties and has the most stringent movement restrictions, reclassified as a Green Zone by mid March 2008, provided all goes well. This would mean that horses could move freely within that zone as long as they have a waybill, a document easily downloaded from the DPI&F website. Minimal movement conditions are envisaged for movement out of the zone at that time.
• Queensland’s Amber Zone should become part of the White Zone on 20 February
• A strong possibility of Queensland being declared completely free of EI by June 2008.
However, it is still crucial that any suspect cases of equine influenza are reported to a local vet or DPI&F immediately.
Details of what the new changes will mean for horse owners are available on the DPI&F website www.dpi.qld.gov.au or by calling 13 25 23.
Media:
Minister’s office 32396530
DPI&F 32393010