2007 Australian equine influenza outbreak

An outbreak of equine influenza in Australia was confirmed by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries on August 24, 2007 in Sydney. Also known as "horse flu", the rapid outbreak was of the Influenza A virus strain of subtype H3N8. While the virus is highly contagious, it rarely kills adult horses but the performance of thoroughbred racing horses can be affected for several weeks. It can be fatal to young foals and debilitated horses.

Because of strict quarantine procedures to reduce the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering Australia, this was the first outbreak of equine influenza (EI) in Australia. Horses in Australia had not been exposed to the virus and are not vaccinated and hence were fully susceptible.

Outbreak
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 August 21, 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 August 24. 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 August 26, 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 gymkhana at Maitland the previous week.

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

By August 27, 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, Queensland was locked down after 20 infections were confirmed. Horses at Gatton, Queensland tested positive on August 27.

By August 28, New South Wales police confirmed that six police horses had tested positive the police stables 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 August 29, 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 and some area's of Kenthurst following further positive flu tests.

On August 30, 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 1646 suspected infections on 100 properties. The first infection in Brisbane was confirmed, increasing the number of quarantine zones in Queensland to five.

Cause
There had been no direct contact between the horses at Eastern Creek and Centennial Parklands. Veterinary surgeons suggested the virus must have been transmitted between the two locations by human error. The NSW Government blamed the Eastern Creek quarantine station and demanded the Federal Government hold an inquiry into the "biosecurity breach".

Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran denied any quarantine breach and said the Maitland gymkhana "seems to be where the spread of the infection occurred".

Response and precautions
A 10 km quarantine zone was declared around Eastern Creek Quarantine Station and the Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre, where the first infections were identified, on August 24. Quarantine zones were then placed around each new infection site.

Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran ordered a 72-hour nationwide ban on all horse and harness racing on August 25.

A national standstill was decided by the National Committee for Exotic Animal Disease to begin at 1pm on Saturday 25 August. Each state and territory was responsible for enacting the legal instrument within their borders. All horse movements were halted within New South Wales on August 25, initially for 72 hours. The Control Order was made under the Exotic Diseases of Animals Act 1991 making it illegal to move horses. The Australian Capital Territory, contained wholly within New South Wales, was also declared a quarantine zone with no horse movements permitted across the border. Victorian Minister for Agriculture Joe Helper declared the whole of Victoria a Control Area on August 25 and Western Australia imposed a 72 hour standstill. Queensland Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin declared the entire state a Equine Standstill Zone from August 25. The Northern Territory government placed a 72 hour ban on horse movements from August 27.

Sydney's Randwick Racecourse was locked down on August 27 after two horses presented with flu symptoms. Federal Primary Industries Minister Senator Ian Macdonald extended the 72 hour ban on horse movement by 7 days. The New South Wales government subsequently made the ban on horse movements and race meetings indefinite.

Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd called for an independent inquiry into the Australian quarantine system.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries warned horse owners against buying EI vaccine online as the importation of vaccines is illegal.

The Agricultural Societies Council banned horses from agricultural shows at Grenfell, Narromine, Barmedman, Lake Cargelligo, Finley, Manildra, Minto and Woodstock.

The Werribee Open Range Zoo cancelled its rhinoceros tour as a precaution, banned human contact with its zebras and took its horses and donkeys off public display.

On Sunday September 2, the Australian Prime Minster, the hon. John Howard, ordered a public inquiry into the outbreak of EI in Australia. Appointing retired former High Court judge Ian Callinan to conduct the inquiry, the Prime Minster stated that judge Callinan would have sweeping powers to investigate "every aspect" of the crisis. Initial reports say that 100 people are in line to be questioned in the inquiry, which is believed to be centring around the Eastern Creek quarantine station in Sydney's western suburbs.

International reaction
New Zealand biosecurity authorities announced that all imports of horses from Australia would be halted indefinitely, and all horses that had arrived since the 1st August are being identified. The New Zealand TAB altered meeting times on Sunday 26 August to provide some racing for the Australian betting market and have temporarily suspended early betting on the Australian Spring racing carnival.

Japanese horses were reported as being unlikely to travel to Australia for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. The trainer of defending Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues and second placegetter Pop Rock confirmed that both horses would not be returning to Australia in 2007.

The Philippines banned imports of Australian racehorses as a precautionary measure, but praised Australia for "acting responsibly and banning the movement of horses".

Effect
James Gilkerson, President of the Australian Equine Veterinarians Association, said the horse racing and breeding industries could come to a standstill if horse flu took hold. John Messara, President of Australian Thoroughbred Breeders, said the industry would lose hundreds of millions of dollars in lost gambling revenue and stallion servicing fees. Federal Treasurer Peter Costello said "when you take into account breeders, trainers, jockeys and race meetings the outbreak will affect the economy."

Peter McGauran called for the Melbourne Cup to be postponed. Racing Victoria Limited admitted the outbreak would affect the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival but vowed to defy the call to postpone the Melbourne Cup. Several betting agencies temporarily suspended betting on the Melbourne Cup.

New South Wales police said the ban on horse movements could affect crowd control at the APEC Australia 2007 summit where mounted police were planned to be used. Mounted police patrols for APEC were cancelled on August 28 after all NSW police horses were quarantined.

By noon on August 27, police had stopped over 100 people transporting horses in violation of the ban, and plans to bring police horses from Victoria for APEC had been scrapped.

The Parkes Show was cancelled after several horses in the area were diagnosed with EI and the showground was quarantined. For the second time in its 125 year history, the Birdsville Races were called off as Queensland Racing Minister Andrew Fraser cancelled all horse racing in the state.

The Australian Racing Board agreed to move the breeding season forward by six days to ease anticipated congestion of servicing bookings once the movement ban was lifted.

The Randwick Trainers' Association ceased negotiations with the Catholic church and the NSW Government over plans to hold a World Youth Day Papal mass at Randwick Racecourse in July 2008. Trainer John O'Shea said holding the mass at Randwick was now "out of the question" as the disruption and damage to the racecourse would multiply the damage of the EI outbreak. However NSW Premier Morris Iemma ruled out moving the event as there was no alternative venue available in Sydney.

The outbreak forced the cancellation of a 3-day qualifying event for the 2008 Summer Olympics scheduled to be held in Sydney on September 13.

Cattle mustering in Queensland, which is often carried out on horseback, was halted due to the ban on horse movements.

The Sydney spring racing carnival was cancelled following the outbreak at Randwick racecourse. NSW horses will be prevented from travelling to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup.

The Equine Influenza has also had an ongoing effect on the Largest National Equine Endurance Event The Shahzada which was to be held at St Albans NSW from the 27th to the 31st of August. All horses at the event were locked down for over a week, with many competitors travelling from interstate. It has been a disaster, with many not being able to bring their highly trained animals home. Many of these horses have had to be left on properties within New South Wales.