Police horses first for equine influenza vaccine

Friday 14 December, 2007

South Australia’s police horses will be the first to be vaccinated against equine influenza in South Australia.

The National Management Group, coordinating the eradication program for equine influenza, agreed to industry requests for the release of 3200 vaccine doses for use in South Australia.

The vaccine has been allocated to protect sectors of the horse industry with high economic value or particular public benefit.

SA Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Rob Rahaley said that vaccination will be targeted. “Vaccination is only to stop horses from getting sick if EI should be brought into South Australia. The police horses have been selected because of their important social role,” he said.

Thirty five of the SAPOL horses on active duty will be vaccinated.

“The police horses are a very important part of our public patrols and our crowd control strategy. It would be a significant loss to our operations if these horses were not able to work because of Equine ‘flu,” said Assistant Commissioner Grant Stevens.

The NSW police horses were not available for crowd control duties during the recent APEC meeting in Sydney because they had contracted Equine Influenza.

The SA racing industry expects to have completed a vaccination program of horses by the end of the January. In the racing and equestrian groups, vaccination will be done at the industry’s cost.

“It is important for horse owners to understand that vaccination does not mean horses can move freely if infection reached our state. The use of the vaccine in these targeted groups is an insurance policy to stop these horses from becoming sick and allow the horses to resume activities as soon as possible,” Dr Rahaley said.

Specialist equine vets have received training by PIRSA in the use of the vaccine; there are strict guidelines on the use and administration of the vaccine, including the requirement for horses to be accurately identified, including microchipping in some cases.

The vaccine selected for use in Australia has the advantage of allowing laboratory tests can distinguish between horses vaccinated with it compared with horses that are infected with the disease.

Other EI news:

  • Of the 80 equestrian events to seek permits for activities, 66 have been approved by PIRSA.
  • Event organisers are being asked submit their permit applications well in advance of the event they are organising.
  • Containment and eradication of the disease in NSW and Qld remains on track.
  • Quarantine facilities have been identified at four possible SA sites.
  • About 12 horses that are genuine repatriation cases are waiting to return to South Australia from interstate.

People wanting more information about horse flu and equestrian activities in SA can contact:

  • PIRSA website – www.pir.sa.gov/horseflu
  • PIRSA hotline – 1800 675 888
  • Their equestrian clubs and associations
  • Horse SA 0402 488 306