2007 Australian equine influenza outbreak
An outbreak of equine influenza (EI) in Australia was confirmed by the Department of Primary Industries (New South Wales) on 24 August 2007 in Sydney.
The zones which had been instituted to permit and restrict movements according to risk were progressively lifted from areas of New South Wales and Queensland.
Following the provisional declaration of EI-free status for New South Wales and Queensland, ongoing surveillance and tracking measures are required until the international community recognises that the disease has been eradicated from Australia.
Four Japanese racing stallions had arrived at Eastern Creek Quarantine Station earlier in August 2007, soon after an outbreak of EI in Japan.
By Tuesday 21 August, several horses at Eastern Creek showed symptoms of a viral infection and subsequently tested positive for equine influenza.
The positive test resulted in the lockdown of approximately 60 horses at the Eastern Creek and Spotswood quarantine stations (in Sydney and Melbourne respectively).
[5] A horse trials event at the Morgan Park Equestrian Centre near Warwick in Queensland was locked down after 20 infections were confirmed.
On 29 August, a racecourse at Hamilton in Victoria went into lockdown when a horse began to exhibit signs of influenza however, the flu tests were negative.
On 30 August, a thoroughbred racehorse at Randwick Racecourse returned a preliminary positive test for EI, although did not have any symptoms of infection.
[21] Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran denied any quarantine breach and said the Maitland event "seems to be where the spread of the infection occurred".
[24] The Australian Capital Territory, contained wholly within New South Wales, was also declared a quarantine zone with no horse movements permitted across the border.
[26] Queensland Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin declared the entire state an Equine Standstill Zone from 25 August.
[32] The Werribee Open Range Zoo cancelled its rhinoceros tour as a precaution, banned human contact with its zebras and took its horses and donkeys off public display.
[33] On 2 September, the Australian Prime Minister at the time, John Howard, ordered a public inquiry into the outbreak of EI in Australia.
[36] The trainer of defending Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues and second placegetter Pop Rock confirmed that both horses would not be returning to Australia in 2007.
John Messara, President of Australian Thoroughbred Breeders, said the industry would lose hundreds of millions of dollars in lost gambling revenue and stallion servicing fees.
[39] Federal Treasurer Peter Costello said "when you take into account breeders, trainers, jockeys and race meetings the outbreak will affect the economy.
[47] The Australian Racing Board agreed to move the breeding season forward by six days to ease anticipated congestion of servicing bookings once the movement ban was lifted.
[49] However, the mass went ahead, with all horses being removed from the track starting 13 June 2008 in preparation for construction work needed for the event.
"[53] New South Wales was declared free of equine influenza by the state Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald on 29 February 2008.
[34] The new Agriculture Minister Tony Burke promised that all 38 of the report's recommendations would be implemented, and that a "massive change" in the culture of the quarantine service should occur.
