2007 Australian Equine Influenza Outbreak - Outbreak

Outbreak

Centennial Parklands Parkes Moonbi Berry Wilberforce Cattai Wyong Location of NSW infections by 26 August 2007 Gatton Location of Queensland infections by 27 August 2007 Centennial Parklands Parkes Moonbi Berry Wilberforce Cattai Wyong Mount Hunter Moree Aberdeen Anambah Location of NSW infections by 29 August 2007 Gatton Rosewood Brookfield Kenmore Hills Location of Queensland infections by 30 August 2007

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. On the same day, several recreational horses at Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre also displayed symptoms of infection. There was no direct contact between horses at Eastern Creek and horses at Centennial Park and investigations are underway.

The first case of EI in Australia was confirmed in a stallion at Eastern Creek on 24 August. The positive test resulted in the lockdown of approximately 60 horses at the Eastern Creek and Spotswood quarantine stations (in Sydney and Melbourne respectively). 16 horses at Eastern Creek and at Centennial Parklands tested positive for EI virus while another six exhibited symptoms. By the next day, there were over 80 suspected cases. All horses were isolated and a 72 hour national standstill on the movement of horses was declared.

By 26 August 161 of the 165 horses at Centennial Parklands and other horses at Parkes, Moonbi, Berry, Wilberforce, Cattai and Wyong were confirmed as being infected. Most of the infected horses at Centennial Park were found to have been together at a One Day Event at Maitland the previous week.

On 26 August 2007 about 300 horses were released from the Narrabri Showground where campdraft competitions were held.

By 27 August, more than 400 horses on 50 properties in New South Wales had been quarantined after showing symptoms. A horse trials event at the Morgan Park Equestrian Centre near Warwick in Queensland was locked down after 20 infections were confirmed. Horses at Gatton tested positive on 27 August. Also on 27 August, New South Wales police confirmed that six police horses had tested positive and the police stables were placed under quarantine for two months. Police horses were suspected of being infected after some police riders attended the Maitland gymkhana. Infections were confirmed and quarantine zones established at Mount Hunter, Moree, Aberdeen and Anambah.

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.

Additional quarantine zones were declared at Lake Macquarie, Terry Hie Hie, East Maitland, Warwick, Timbumburi, Eagleton (near Raymond Terrace) and some areas of Kenthurst following further positive flu tests.

On 30 August, a thoroughbred racehorse at Randwick Racecourse returned a preliminary positive test for EI, although did not have any symptoms of infection. Track work was cancelled and the stables were locked down. Tests confirmed that eight race horses in the stable had EI and the racecourse was quarantined for two months. This brought the number of confirmed infections to 488 on 41 properties, plus another 1,646 suspected infections on 100 properties. The first infection in Brisbane was confirmed, increasing the number of quarantine zones in Queensland to five.

On 5 November 2007 it was announced that a new outbreak of EI has occurred about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Walcha.

By early December, the number of new cases had declined and it appeared that the outbreak had been effectively contained. On 22 December a substantial part of the New South Control one was promoted to a provisionally free status.

By mid February 2008 it was increasingly clear that the outbreak had been successfully controlled and, on 28 February, the NSW Government declared victory against EI, lifting most of the remaining movement restrictions on horses.