Horse flu zones provide greater flexibility
Date: 22/9/2007 -
Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald today said the equine influenza zones, which came into effect yesterday, are providing greater flexibility across NSW and allowing essential breeding to take place.
Mr Macdonald said NSW has been broken into four colour zones as part of the State Government’s Equine Influenza Protection Plan.
“The strategic zones are helping contain and eradicate the disease, while also allowing some movement of mares and foals to help the breeding and racing industries survive.
“All horse owners in the green zone, which covers more than half the state, can return to normal activities in their zone once they have filled in an electronic travelling horse statement, which they must carry with them.”
“In the last 24 hours 641 people have lodged applications for movements in the green zone.”
Mr Macdonald said the NSW Government will continue to look at other relevant options to help those affected by equine influenza.
“Our priority is to eradicate this disease and get the industry back on its feet - that’s what everybody wants,” he said.
“I would like to make it clear that the NSW Government will continue to explore logistical, veterinarian, scientific and other relevant forms of support and this will involve ongoing discussions with industry.
“The NSW Government is spending more than $1 million a week, fighting this disease.
“We have more than 250 staff working around the clock including veterinarians, scientists, logistics, tracing and surveillance and industry liaison.
“We’ve set up a taskforce and our support is being provided through NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the SES, the Rural Fire Service, NSW Police Force, the Department of Environment and Climate Change, the Department of Housing and the State Emergency Operations Centre.”
Maps & travelling horse statements can be found at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza
NSW Equine Influenza Hotline 1800 675 888.
