Equine Influenza News
Registering Horse Events and Completing Horse Movement Documentation - QLD
A Horse Event Notification Form will need to be completed for all Horse events in Queensland. This can be done on-line via the DPI&F website or through the DPI&F Call Centre on free call 13 25 23.
Event organisers are required to collect Waybills or Queensland Horse Inter Zone Declarations from every participant that has transported a horse to the event by vehicle.
These documents must be kept for two years and be made available for inspection upon request.
The DPI&F no longer requires proof of horses' immune status before allowing them to move zones or attend events. Horses of different EI immune status have been mixing since the lifting of movement restrictions.Therefore event organisers are no longer required to know the immune status of horses attending their events. Any horse from any locality around Australia can travel to an event, and you can confidently accept these horses at any event.
For further information please contact the Equine Influenza Industry Liaison Officers: Adele Godsall 0434 369 958 or Karen Herald 0434 363 209.
Emergency Alert System For The Horse Industry
A revolutionary early warning network and alert system has been established for horse owners. The network utilises world class technology and is being provided free to all Australian horse owners, clubs and groups.
EquineALERT is FREE. Find out more via this link.
Subsidies for EI Vaccinations End
Increasing confidence that Australia has successfully eradicated equine influenza has led to the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases deciding to cease vaccinations for horses under the eradication program.
For details visit the DPI News Release.
Queensland EI Update Mar 13, 2008
In a major move towards finally declaring Queensland free of equine influenza, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said that from Friday, March 14, the current Amber Zone would become Green.
For details visit the Ministerial Media Statement.
Queensland EI Update Feb 27, 2008
The QPPHI Crisis Committe has informed us that at 12:01am on Wednesday the 27th February 08, the current Queensland RED zone goes AMBER AND at the same time the current Queensland AMBER zone goes WHITE in alignment with the rest of the state.
WHAT THIS MEANS:
If you wish to float a horse WITHIN in the (new) AMBER zone, you will only need a WAYBILL. No Permit! You can download and fill out a waybill for each float move, from the DPI website OR buy a waybill book from your local DPI office www.dpi.qld.gov.au
If you wish to float a horse across another zone colour, or Interstate, you WILL need a PERMIT. For instance, moving Old Red to Old Amber - now New Amber to White, WILL need a permit.
If you wish to compete at an event or go to a training day, you will apply for a PERMIT through the event organiser. You will need your waybill to get to event, and write on it the Event Permit number that the organising committee gives you BEFORE you leave. Contact your event organiser for details.
If you are unsure which zone you are in, please check the DPI website for the zone maps. For further clarification, call the call centre on 132523, and have your Lot on Plan numbers on hand to speed up your query.
EI National Situation Update Feb 2008
According to the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry, there are currently no EI infected properties in NSW and QLD. However there are some Dangerous Contact Premises and Suspected Premises still under surveillance.
The last infections occurred on December 22 in NSW and December 25 in Queensland. Surveillance and random testing is continuing to confirm that the disease is dying out.
Although easing, movement restrictions are still in place in some locations.
For more details visit Outbreak.gov.au
$110 million Equine Influenza Assistance
The Australian Government has announced further assistance for people and businesses facing additional costs and significant financial hardship, as a direct result of the Equine Influenza quarantine measures currently in place.
The $110 million funding package includes:
- Equine Workers Hardship Wage Supplement Payment
- Equine Influenza Business Assistance Grant
- Commercial Horse Assistance Payment
- Grants for non-government, not-for-profit equestrian organisations
For more details visit the grants section of the Australian Government website Outbreak.gov.au
Equine Influenza Outbreak Website
Equine Influenza HOTLINE: 1800 234 002
If you suspect equine influenza in your horse(s) phone the national 24hr Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. It is an offence not to report.
The National pests & disease outbreak website is developed collaboratively, with all of the State & Territory and Australian Government agricultural agencies working together to bring you the most up-to-date information available. The Equine Influenza situation is addressed thoroughly.
The site is hosted, maintained and managed by Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. To view FAQs, Situation Updates and Financial Assistance details visit Outbreak.gov.au.
