HORSE FLU

[mal]

Disasterous news from around the nation with a potential Flu epidemic.
Race + trotting meetings around the nation have been abandoned
Initial reports filtering through is that both industries may be in jeopardy
of racing for anything from a week to several months.

My next comment is not one of my sweeping comments that I am renown for

_________________________________________________________________
If the trots are called off indefinitely I will have to get another job
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The ramifications if this flu esculates could be insurmountable
Millions of $$ will be lost in revenues generated in the equine industries
Breeding industries will be affected as foals are susceptible to this flu
Commissions from Gambling revenue needed by race clubs could brink thier exsistance.

Lets hope its a short term and not a long term problem

[Dutchy]

wouldnt want to be holding shares in the TAB's!

great time to own a horse again...FFS it was ready to trial next week

[Dutchy]

in all seriousness is this an over reaction? i would have thought the banning of horses travelling across borders would have solve it in my uneducated opinion

[robber]

Disasterous news from around the nation with a potential Flu epidemic.
Race + trotting meetings around the nation have been abandoned
Initial reports filtering through is that both industries may be in jeopardy
of racing for anything from a week to several months.

My next comment is not one of my sweeping comments that I am renown for

_________________________________________________________________
If the trots are called off indefinitely I will have to get another job
_________________________________________________________________

Lucky you would of stashed a stack away from the Late Mal results and be able to cruise thru this period of time. Us little blokes who only win pennies of the Late Mal every week (like a wage) dont know how they are going to eat next week.

[mal]

The greyhound admin have been dealt a royal routine
When the Sydney races were called off on a couple of Tuesdays recently
the turnover on Gawler dogs esculated.
With no horse meetings, and more time to fill in tickets and more time to evaluate in the TABs
I envisage that the dog holdings will increase substantially if there are no horseys running.

It could be dire straits [money for nothing !!!]
No horse races, no revenue and the racetracks of today could well be TOMorrows museums.

Government intervention is on the agenda as the taxes they will miss out on will hurt.

This is a marvellous opportunity for the dogs admin to capitalise on a situation,
do some snazzy promoting and reep some gifted opportunites
Im sure the Casino will.

As for me ROBBER Im taking leave without pay from my harness employment ...

[heater31]

surely an over reaction in regards to SA racing. no horse here has been reported to have symptoms yet.

SAJC would have to spewing looking at one of their biggest non cup gate takings with Miss Finland running, only to go down the shitter on sat morning

[Dutchy]

Well how about some Late MAL for SG, MG & PG?????

[mal]

People involved with horses have been told not to move thier gigis for 72 hours

[brod]

Good ol' Darwin - everythings just a little different there

[Dutchy]

Surely the Dog Associations should be meeting today and transferring some of the night meetings this week to during the day and promoting the hell out of them so at least the TAB's etc can open and keep some turnover ticking along for the good of the industry...

[warrior]

brod, didnt affect darwin races yesterday as all horses there are stabled at the track.Wether they change remains to be seen

[another grub]

Personaly with my lack of coin.... I hope the flu hangs round for a while.... I might be able to save $$$$

In all seriousness...... total over reaction......

[mighty_tiger_79]

Surely the Dog Associations should be meeting today and transferring some of the night meetings this week to during the day and promoting the hell out of them so at least the TAB's etc can open and keep some turnover ticking along for the good of the industry...

yes TRANSFER ANGLE PARK MONDAY NIGHT to a 1pm start in the arvo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well it suits me

and if the flu continues and races are called off wednesday, put the brekky meeting back a couple of hours to run with the melb dog meeting

and thursday make it a day meeting

[warrior]

Total over reaction probably but has to been done.
Considering they are saying that the flu has been reported st several country areas in NSW. If you listened to tab radio this morning a standardbred trainer based in SA was on his way back with 2 horses from NSW stopped at mildura and rang SA harness racing chief steward Gerard Lawlor to find out what to do, he was told to contact mildura veterinary clinic and get horse checked and to monitor horse. Just imagine what would happen if this virus runs rampant. There would be no racing, the breeding sector would be hit for six, the foals about to drop would be most affected and so on. I miss having a punt too but with the weather the way it is now go out and enjoy it.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Total over reaction probably but has to been done.
Considering they are saying that the flu has been reported st several country areas in NSW. If you listened to tab radio this morning a standardbred trainer based in SA was on his way back with 2 horses from NSW stopped at mildura and rang SA harness racing chief steward Gerard Lawlor to find out what to do, he was told to contact mildura veterinary clinic and get horse checked and to monitor horse. Just imagine what would happen if this virus runs rampant. There would be no racing, the breeding sector would be hit for six, the foals about to drop would be most affected and so on. I miss having a punt too but with the weather the way it is now go out and enjoy it.

the dogs are still racing, theres footy, cricket, baseball, basketball, elections etc to bet on!!!!!!!!!

[Squawk]

The attached information may be of interest to you re Horse Flu and the implications for Australia.

It would sound like an over-reaction to persons not accustomed to planning, preparing, responding and recovering from disasters, but the potential risk to the equine population in Australia is too great to consider a more cautious approach. In any case, the country has plans for all sorts of disasters and that includes an outbreak of equine influenza - commonly known as horse flu.

The chief veterinary officer (CVO) in the state or territory in which the outbreak

occurs is responsible for developing an Emergency Animal Disease Response Plan

for the particular outbreak.


The Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD), convened

for the incident, assesses the response plan drawn up by the CVO for technical

soundness and consistency with AUSVETPLAN, and endorses or seeks

modifications to it. Overall operational management of the incident rests with the

CVO of the affected jurisdiction, with oversight by the CCEAD.


The Chief Veternary Officer in SA works for Primary Industries and Resources SA.



The following information is extracted from the Equine Influenza Emergency Plan which sits under the AUSVETPLAN (Australian Veterinary Plan).

AUSVETPLAN

Effective responses to emergency disease outbreaks require emergency disease planning at national, State/Territory and district level and the involvement of both animal health authorities and emergency management organisations. The basis for this planning is contained in the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN).

Animal Health Australia, as the custodian of the AUSVETPLAN, works closely with the Australian Government, States and Territories and the livestock industries to determine priorities and continuously update the manuals to ensure their accuracy.

AUSVETPLAN is a series of technical response plans that describe the proposed Australian approach to an exotic disease incursion. The documents provide guidance based on sound analysis, linking policy, strategies, implementation, coordination and emergency-management plans. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat (free) used to view the PDF documents.

http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/shadomx/apps/fms/fmsdownload.cfm?file_uuid=955FA5A8-C0D0-9FAC-3E32-33DC206BDC68&siteName=aahc



Brief details extracted from the Equine Influenza Plan are shown below.



Summary of policy

Equine influenza (EI) is an OIE-listed disease that has the potential for very

rapid spread, and the potential to cause illness, deaths in young foals and

debilitated or old horses, and loss of performance. It is important in the

international movement of horses.

The disease would result in serious economic loss within the equine

industry due to the morbidity and mortality expected in a naive population,

the constraints placed on the movements of animals for an unknown period,

and the ongoing costs of any vaccination program.

The overall policy is to control and then eradicate EI by:

[Squawk]

(CONTINUED FROM ABOVE)
quarantine and movement controls of equines, their products and other

potentially contaminated items to prevent spread of infection;

quarantine and movement controls of equines, their products and other

potentially contaminated items to prevent spread of infection;

decontamination of facilities, equipment and other items to eliminate

the spread of the disease agent from infected animals and premises;

tracing and surveillance to determine the source and extent of infection;

and

an awareness campaign to encourage cooperation by the industry and the

community.

Vaccination of horses may be approved if:

the disease is widespread when detected;

significant numbers of horses are at immediate risk; or

initial control methods have failed, and the disease has spread beyond

the original restricted area (RA) and is likely to become endemic in the

general equine population.

Successful implementation of the policy will depend on total industry

cooperation and compliance with all control and eradication measures.

Equine influenza is an Animal Health Australia Category 4 disease under

the government–industry Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement

for cost-sharing arrangements. Category 4 diseases are those for which costs

will be shared 20% by government and 80% by industry.





At least 30 days complete rest is recommended after infection, with a longer period

being required if the fever extends for more than 4 days. After 30 days rest, only

light exercise is recommended for a further 4 weeks. Rest reduces the opportunity

for secondary infection, hastens complete recovery and thereby decreases the

output of infective virus (Daly and Mumford 2001).



Influenza viruses can survive on skin, fabrics and the surface of contaminated

equipment. In conditions of 35% to 40% humidity and at a temperature of 28°C,

both influenza A and influenza B viruses have been shown to survive on hard,

nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic for 24–48 hours, but for less

than 8–12 hours on cloth and paper. Higher humidity shortened virus survival.

Measurable quantities of influenza A virus were transferred from stainless steel

surfaces to hands for 24 hours and from paper tissues to hands for up to

15 minutes. Virus survived on hands for up to 5 minutes after transfer from

environmental surfaces (Bean et al 1982). Survival of EI virus for at least 12 hours

(overnight) in an uncleaned horse transport vehicle has been reported (Guthrie

et al 1999).



1.6.3 Modes of transmission

Live animals

Within premises, transmission of infection occurs principally by aerosol from the

virus-laden cough. An infected, coughing horse can spread EI virus 35 metres and

possibly further under favourable air and wind drift conditions (Miller 1965).

However, as with other influenza viruses (Loosli et al 1943, Bean et al 1982), the

survival of EI virus in air may be reduced in conditions of high relative humidity.

Windborne spread from premises over distances up to 8 kilometres was reported

anecdotally in South Africa in 1986 (Huntington 1990). Windborne spread was also

suspected in a Jamaican outbreak in 1989 when stud farms within a 2-mile radius

of an infected racing complex became infected after an unexpected change in the

prevailing wind, in the direction of the farms (Dalglish 1992).



In fully susceptible populations, infection can spread rapidly between premises by

the movement of recently infected horses to and from race meetings, studs, shows,

events and sales. Subclinical infection in vaccinated, partially immune horses may

result in disease spread both within endemic areas and internationally.

Animals other than horses are not epidemiologically significant in the spread of EI.

The potential for spread of infection via human nasal secretions from persons

exposed to infected horses is unknown but is assumed to be minimal. Spread by

this means has never been reported in field outbreaks. However, mechanical

transfer of virus on people, clothing and equipment is a significant route of virus

spread (see below).

There is no evidence that equine semen or embryos are involved in the

transmission of EI.



The importance of indirect transmission between establishments by people, horse

transport vehicles and contaminated equipment cannot be overstated. If the

movement of horses cannot be controlled, limiting the spread of infection in a

susceptible horse population will require very careful attention to decontamination

procedures.



Tracing should include:

Live horses;

horse transport vehicles;

horse equipment (including saddles, bridles and bits, grooming equipment,

riding clothes, stable tools);

clothing and equipment used by veterinarians and other service providers;

horse handlers, veterinary surgeons, farriers, horse dental technicians,

artificial insemination technicians, branders, chiropractors, trainers, jockeys,

track riders, feed suppliers and any other relevant service providers;

horse carcases that may have been used as pet food; and

semen and embryos (not a high priority, as they are not involved in

transmission of the disease).

[Squawk]

100 people were stopped by NSW Police today whilst transporting horses.

[smithy]

Where did you read that squawk?

[RustyCage]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/28/2017665.htm?section=sport

Training to resume for SA horses
Posted 16 minutes ago
Updated 17 minutes ago

South Australian racehorses will be allowed to return to training from tomorrow.

Limited training will be allowed at the Morphettville and Globe Derby tracks.

A restricted area will operate around the racecourses.

South Australia's chief veterinary officer Rob Rahaley says the decision will effectively quarantine the two sites.