EQUINE INFLUENZA- the disease that stopped a nation

by Portland Jones, Amanda Macpherson and Julia McLean

This disease does not discriminate; it will infect all equines regardless of their pedigree or price tag and it is rapidly spreading across New South Wales and less rapidly in Queensland.

Unless you have worked with horses overseas or are a qualified veterinarian it is possible that prior to the 25th August 2007 you may never have heard of Equine Influenza. By the 30th August - unless you were residing on the moon - it would be impossible to be not only unaware of it but also unafraid. Although it is not usually fatal to healthy, adult horses and is not transmitted to humans, the highly contagious and debilitating nature of this disease has brought Australia's third largest industry to a halt and there are no guarantees that the worst is over.

Australia is now at war with the Equine Influenza virus and everyone involved in the horse industry is fighting on the front line whether they like it or not. This disease does not discriminate; it will infect all equines regardless of their pedigree or price tag. The fight is on to eliminate this virus while it may still be possible, because a failure to do so could substantially change the way horses are owned and managed in this country. In the 6th century the Chinese soldier Sun Tzu advised his followers to 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer', so take a good, long look at the Equine Influenza virus in order to understand how best to beat it.

Equine Influenza (E.I) is a highly contagious disease that affects horses and other equines such as donkeys and mules. The symptoms include a dry, hacking cough, a nasal discharge that may vary from clear to cloudy and a sudden increase of temperature to between 39 and 41C. Horses that are infected may refuse to eat, appear to be depressed and suffering from muscle pain similar to the classic flu symptoms shown in humans. E.I is not transmittable to humans and is not the same as avian influenza or 'bird flu'.

E.I will last between two and three weeks and although it is not normally fatal in healthy, adult horses, it can cause secondary infections and these can be fatal in foals under the age of four weeks and in older horses. This virus is almost unbelievably contagious; if one horse in a stable contracts E.I it is almost certain that every one of his stable mates will too. The incubation period is two to six days and horses that are infected are contagious for at least eight days. Twenty eight days after contracting the illness horses are usually recovered and non contagious. E.I is a virus and therefore cannot be treated with antibiotics, however, if a horse develops a secondary infection, this can be treated with the appropriate antibiotic. Good nursing, rest and the advice of a vet are all that is usually required to ensure the horse makes a full recovery within a couple of weeks.

IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRY
The horse industry is traditionally made up of fragmented groups and individualists but this is a time for everyone to stand together for the greater good of the sport, the industry and our livelihoods. The impact of this outbreak will be devastating. Over 50,000 people earn their primary income from a horse related industry and many of these will find themselves unemployed or bankrupt as the spread of the disease continues.

The Federal Government initally provided $4 million dollars for a fund to "provide emergency grants to individuals suffering financial difficulty as a result of the Equine Influenza (EI) outbreak". This was followed on the 9th September with a $110 million funding package that covers workers, business assistance, professionals in the racing, pacing and equestrian fields, and not-for-profit equestrian organisations.

For further information see the web: www.centrelink.gov.au

Inquiry Into Outbreak
An independent inquiry will be conducted into the entry and spread of equine influenza (EI) in Australia. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, said the inquiry would examine how the virus got into Australia, and how it had spread. The public - particularly those directly affected by the outbreak - rightly expect that all circumstances surrounding the entry of EI into Australia are being properly investigated and that Australia's quarantine procedures are effective.

A UNITED VOICE
We may be many in number but so fragmented and diverse in our pursuits that our voices may not be heard if we don't stick together. The horse industry may not have created this situation, but it is now our responsibility and how we conduct our response may have far reaching consequences. If you are concerned about the future of your equestrian lifestyle then it is important to abandon any complacency!

WHAT IF ?
Australia has long prided itself on its lack of serious contagious diseases but it is almost certain that isolation has caused us to become less vigilant about prevention. The numbers of horses circling the globe for breeding and competitive purposes has increased rapidly in the last decade, and it was perhaps inevitable that an outbreak of this nature should occur eventually.

Once the Equine Influenza situation is resolved it will be time to take stock of practices and implement changes to increase their effectiveness. There are far worse diseases than Equine Influenza, diseases that are more debilitating, diseases that are fatal to horses and even to humans. We need only to look at the impact that the outbreak of foot and mouth disease had on Britain to understand the widespread devastation that a more serious livestock borne disease can bring.

To Vaccinate Or Not To Vaccinate?
Australia has never before had a diagnosed case of EI but it exists on every other continent inhabited by horses. In other countries where it is prevalent, vaccinations are used to prevent outbreaks and many people have suggested that Australia should follow suit. Considering that all the horses entering Australia and the Eastern Creek Quarantine station would have received EI vaccinations as part of their requirements for entry, vaccination is perhaps not the panacea that horse owners are hoping for. It does not always prevent horses from contracting the virus and can mask the symptoms, making diagnosis difficult. Vaccination is also expensive and has to be done between two to four times per year.

In 1992 an E I outbreak occurred in Hong Kong at the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, even though all horses at the site were vaccinated. Approximately 37% of the 955 horses there developed the disease and the most severe symptoms were shown in horses that came from Australia and New Zealand; countries that did not have the virus at that time.

Australia has a nationally agreed upon response plan (called AUSVETPLAN) that was designed by the Commonwealth, state governments and affected industries and the current response to the EI outbreak is in accordance with this agreement. AUSVETPLAN is published on the website of Animal Health Australia (AHA) at www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au under Emergency Animal Diseases.
Any decisions to vaccinate against EI will take into account that Australia does not currently have the vaccine, vaccination is forever - once a program begins it will have to continue indefinitely. The ongoing cost of a vaccination program and possible subsequent outbreaks will have to be weighed against the cost of the current response of containment and possible eradication, so Australia will once again be free of the virus.

The horse industry is currently sharing the cost of this response to the EI epidemic with the government, but it is likely that if vaccination was to occur the costs would be shouldered by the industry alone. The virus itself is debilitating to horses but the 'shut down' response is having a massive impact on the entire industry.
While containment and eradication are obviously the outcomes on the top of our collective wishlists, the really tough question being asked by many in the industry is how long we let this destroy people's livelihoods before a decision is made that containment is no longer possible, and we accept the fact that Australia will have the disease and subsequent outbreaks forever more and begin vaccination?

Biosecurity:
Preventative Hygiene Since the onset of the E.I outbreak horse owners across the nation will have added another word to their vocabularies: Biosecurity. Biosecurity may seem like closing the barn door once the viral horse has bolted but it describes ways of managing the horse population to limit the spread of the disease.

After the initial outbreak the first Biosecurity measure to be implemented was a nation-wide stock standstill (or lockdown) of a minimum of 72 hours authorised by the Department of Agriculture to try and stop the disease immediately. This meant that no horse could be moved from the place where it lived and could not be exercised on the road or on public property. Movement of non-essential equine professionals such as farriers, massage therapists, dentists and riding coaches was strictly limited and the passage of vehicles between horse properties was strictly curtailed.

Areas in which there has been a diagnosed case of E.I have been completely quarantined. Details on the current restrictions for these areas is available at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/ influenza and www.dpi.qld.gov.au. These sites also have the option to register and have regular email updates sent to you. In areas where the threat of disease is considered to be less, such as WA and SA, the stock standstill has been lifted but horse-owners in these areas are being urged to adopt appropriate Biosecurity measures to limit the very real risk to their horses. Exactly what these measures entail is largely dependant on where you live and the sector of the horse industry to which you belong, and may vary from common sense hygiene practices to compulsory veterinary and temperature checks at every event.

Extremely Contagious
E.I is extremely contagious; it can live for 48 hours on hard surfaces and has been shown to survive for up to 14 days in water. People who handle infected horses can transmit the virus to healthy horses on their clothes, hair, skin, boots, gear and vehicles. It can also be spread by droplets (from coughing) and these can travel through the air. Understanding the ease at which the virus spreads illustrates exactly why it is so difficult to contain outbreaks when they occur.

Common Sense Hygeine
There are some common-sense hygiene practices that may help to contain EI. Maintain all gear - including feed buckets, bridles, twitches etc, in a clean state at all times as organic material (dirt, manure) may make disinfectant ineffective. Do not share feed or water buckets or allow horses to drink from communal troughs. Wash your hands thoroughly between handling each horse with soap and warm water. If you have to handle or ride horses that do not reside on your property change your clothes, shower and wash your hair between handling outside horses and handling your own. Limit the amount of traffic between horse properties and insist that farriers, vets, dentists etc thoroughly disinfect themselves (including their boots) and their gear before entering your property. Do not allow your horse to have physical contact with horses that do not reside on your property.

No matter how many measures are adopted the risks of contamination are far greater when large numbers of horses congregate, such as at horse shows or at pony club. Some associations are adopting compulsory vet checks at all events as an interim measure, however; once an infected horse arrives at an event and is off the float it's already too late. In those states allowing events, competitors will have to make the decision to take their horse out knowing that they may be 'locked down' if EI is suspected.

It is of vital importance that horse owners take responsibility for the containment of this virus as common sense hygiene will go a long way towards limiting the spread of EI.
Learn to take your horse's temperature and take it daily. If your horse shows any of the symptoms of EI or has a temperature of over 38.5, isolate the horse and call your vet IMMEDIATELY.

One of the Biosecurity measures that could be implemented cost effectively would be to ensure all horse owners maintain log books of their horse's daily temperature for four or five days prior to competing or attending any event. This simple practice would be easy to maintain and could be implemented using existing officials. More beneficially it places the responsibility on the individual horse owner and would assist with early detection of the disease, which not only limits its spread but would also assist in the animal's recovery.

Living with Lockdown Warwick Queensland
On the 25th August many of Queensland's horse trials competitors arrived at Morgan Park in Warwick for the FEI World Cup Qualifier, unaware that they were soon to become victims of the Equine Influenza outbreak. The event began as planned but rumours soon started to circulate about six horses on the grounds showing signs of a disease previously unheard of in Australia. By Saturday night the event was cancelled, none of the competitors were allowed to leave the Equestrian Centre and they faced the grim prospect of watching their horses become infected with a serious virus.

If there is anything 'lucky' about the Warwick E.I outbreak it's that it was at Morgan Park. The Equestrian Centre has extensive facilities and stabling for 350 horses, and also, on Saturday night when the organising committee surveyed the wreckage of their premier event they did not abandon ship but turned to crisis management, liaising with government and making a very difficult situation more bearable for all those involved. The Queensland government declared the Warwick E.I outbreak a disaster two days after the initial lockdown and organising committee member Simon Goddard said the government assistance was, 'like the cavalry arriving'. He says the QLD Government has done everything possible to help those left stranded by the outbreak.

The government is covering the costs of feed, vets, farriers and stabling for the 253 quarantined horses and providing three meals a day and snacks for the 100 or more people who are locked down with their horses. Although most of the competitors at Warwick were organised to camp overnight in their trucks or floats none were prepared for such an extended stay so washing machines, dryers and TVs have been provided, along with sea containers so people can store their gear. The facilities include 17 showers, 20 toilets, 350 covered stables and a large catering area. There is now a community health centre, sport and recreation tent, centrelink outlet and counselling service. There are nearly 30 children stuck at Morgan Park with their parents and a school is being set up for them as luckily (!) some of the locked down riders are also school teachers.

Simon Goddard says that the morale of those stuck in lockdown is fairly high, especially now that they know what to expect of the disease and its progression. There is a 100% infection rate of the horses at Morgan Park now and they are sick with bad coughs, thick nasal discharge and very high temperatures. It is distressing for the riders to see their horses in obvious discomfort but the veterinary team that has been assembled is excellent and the general consensus is that if your horse has to get sick with EI then Warwick is the place to do it. For most of the riders this will be the end of their competitive season as they cannot leave Warwick until a month after the last horse has contracted the disease and horses cannot go back into work for a month after recovery.

The upheaval has been enormous for those who are locked down as many earn a living in the horse industry and can't work or have taken leave without pay from their jobs. Some have children at home or spouses and families. A few people have been able to leave if they can find another rider prepared to take care of their horses. The rest of these riders are anxiously waiting out the 30 days, caring for their horses on the inside while outside the industry suffers.
The stock standstill in QLD is a blow for an industry already reeling from a long drought. Simon Goddard believes it will take a huge effort to get things back on track as so many people's livelihoods depend on horses, but he is positive that Queenslanders will be able to do it.

FUNDRAISING FOR WARWICK
Sage Carlson, an equine artist and event groom has seen first hand the impact EI is having on those locked down at Morgan Park and, wanting to help, she has been approaching equine businesses regarding sponsorship and donations. Sage was overwhelmed with the response ( Hoofbeats and Horse Magazine sent boxes of magazines so everyone would have something to read while they waited for the all clear ) and now has set the wheels in motion for a dedicated web page at Horses and People magazine. www.horsesandpeople.com.au. It should be uploaded soon, meanwhile, you can contact Sage direct at email:ackyraequine@hotmail.com or phone her on: 0401 150 030

NSW Hit Hard
The ban on horse movement continues in NSW. As horses remain stranded, hundreds are ill and thousands have been exposed to equine influenza. EI is now on two Thoroughbred studs in the Hunter Valley, which is likely to have a devastating impact on foal survival.

While media coverage may be targeting the racing industry, all equestrian and support industries are involved. Trainers, farriers, and massage therapists as well as retail outlets like saddleries and produce stores have been affected. Stablehands have been laid off, transport companies can't operate and rural real estate agents are suffering because they can't show horse properties.
The NSW Mounted Police horses have been quarantined; the horses are unable to fulfil their duties during APEC and are likely to be confined to barracks for at least two months.

Sue Simmonds, from Cessnock, arrived at Moonbi for the Tamworth Dressage Championships on Thursday 23rd August. She is still there, tending her granddaughter Lucy's gelding, who has EI; he is coughing, has a snotty nose and is listless but eating well. There are around 40 horses in the lockdown at Moonbi, and although there is enough feed and bedding, Sue says they could do with extra people to care for horses whose owners had to return home. Sue doesn't expect to be leaving for another 45 days, maybe longer.

Some of the horses recently released from the Parkes lockdown can't return home because the property is suspect, and have gone into agistment - another burden for their owners.
EFA coach and horse trainer Jade Findlay from Cattai has 15 horses with EI - hers was one of the first properties infected. She's let her staff go and the horses are on reduced agistment fees, and although the government paid for testing, the vet consultations and drugs add up. Horse feed is delivered only as far as the front gate, her clients can't see their horses and Jade's husband Paul, a landscaper, can't work on other horse properties, so their income has been dealt a double blow.

All competitions are banned and Agricultural shows will run without horse programs. At the entrance to one saddlery there is a sign requesting all customers remove their shoes and refrain from touching staff. Most saddleries have suspended return or exchange of goods and many have cut back on staff.
It's a disastrous time for people who earn their living from horses, but there will also be long term issues. Infected properties may lose clients and recovered horses may be refused entry to agistment facilities. Casual employees and contractors who seek interim employment may never return to the industry, leading to a shortage of skills and the loss of valuable knowledge and experience. No everyone has abided by the standstill order and prosecutions are now occuring with concerned members of the public reporting unlawful movement of horses.

Condobolin Lockdown
Horses and riders based at Parkes attended 'Condo' show and M'Lise Tuma-Webb takes up the story "On Saturday morning they announced that the gates were locked and there was a suspected case of EI at Parkes."
By the end of the day some permits to leave were issued but it was too late for M'Lise, her husband, three children and horses to drive home that night so they stayed, but the situation changed and no more permits were issued so they were stuck for 12 days.

Parkes Showgrounds
Sandra Henry is locked up at Parkes Showground with her horses - about 32 horses are there. "The Horse feed is delivered only as far as the front gate and then the feed merchant disinfects the vehicle, his shoes and any other items that have come in contact with the soil.
RSPCA are feeding our horses and we are getting regular updates from DPI, RLBP and the local vet. Andrew Hall and the rest of the Parkes Show Society have been brilliant and the EFA's $200 for everyone was most welcome."
"It's important for people to know" says Sandra "when we leave here we will not be carrying the virus with us. Once horses are clear they're then immune and our trucks, floats and equipment will have been disinfected and cleaned."
At time of writing the competitors at Parkes had been advised of a tentative departure date of 28 September, at which time Sandra can return home to the dairy farm to resume her usual duties.

Around Australia - EI is now being spread by people, not horses

NSW
A complete standstill on all horse movements into and within NSW has been in place since the beginning of the outbreak. Horses must not be moved without a special permit and these are only issued under extraordinary circumstances. This standstill is enforceable by law. All shows and events have been cancelled. Less than five per cent of the almost 170,000 horses in NSW have so far tested positive for the disease and a majority of the horse population has not been affected by EI. Most new infections are confined to a few districts with high horse populations. EI is not emerging in new areas of the State. Authorities have been able to limit the spread and this gives confidence that the movement standstill strategy of confining horse flu to relatively few animals in a defined band of NSW is working, even though infection numbers continue to rise. NSW DPI has commended local horse owners for helping to stop the spread of equine influenza.

QUEENSLAND EI Infected.
The movement of horses without a permit is illegal. Some horse events will be allowed under strict conditions and will only feature horses that are already in the event precinct as they cannot be transported. From 13 Sept 2007, Queensland will be split in to two equine influenza zones - a Control zone and a Restricted zone. These zones will facilitate future changes to the movement conditions as they become more confident that the influenza virus is limited to the SE of the State and the Darling Downs. The permit system in place for the control zone (for horses outside of the SE corner of Qld and the Darling Downs) will allow horse movements within the same shire and to properties owned by the same person.

NORTHERN TERRITORY EI free.
There are no restrictions on horse movements in the NT and horse events may take place. Entry of horses from NSW and Qld is prohibited. Permit required for entry of horses from WA, SA, Victoria and Tasmania. Movement of horses from the NT to NSW, Qld, WA and Tas not permitted. SA allowed with permit and Victoria allowed if via SA and with permit.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA EI free:
The movement ban on horses and equine stock has been replaced with a permit system (from 3 September 2007). Requests that equestrian events be cancelled or postponed until further notice. Police and the DPI will be patrolling the State's borders and horses will be able to leave but will not be allowed back into South Australia in all but the most exceptional circumstances.

VICTORIA EI free.
Recommends cancellation of all events in September. Movement of horses into Victoria from NSW and/or Qld is prohibited. Movement of horse vehicles, fittings and equipment into Victoria from NSW is prohibited unless under permit. A security firm is providing effective 24 hour surveillance on all border crossings between NSW and Victoria and will operate until further notice.

ACT EI free.
Landlocked by NSW, the ACT is still in quarantine with no suspicious cases reported. A permit system is in operation for emergency travel. Progression is being made to find ways for a return to work for farriers, dentists, vets and the like. ACT Rangers will continue the surveillance and detection of any horse movement throughout the ACT with the support of ACT Police

WESTERN AUSTRALIA EI free.
Racing and shows are permitted although strict biosecurity measures have been implemented for organisers. There are no restrictions on the movement of horses within or out of WA. Anyone moving horses out of WA should ensure the eligibility to enter the state or territory of destination. The unrestricted movement out does not render any horse eligible to re-enter or return to WA while the Border is closed.

TASMANIA EI free.
There is no restriction upon horse movements within the state but there is a complete ban on horse imports until further notice.Horses may leave unrestricted if the state they are traveling to and/or through will accept them. No restriction on events - but attendance forms must be completed. ABC News Radio reported on 12 September that interstate entries for Hobart and Launceston Shows had been banned from attending. Launceston show manager, Brian Bennett, says about 20 interstate entries will be rejected.

STOP PRESS -
Vaccine for NSW Sept17, 2007 Ten thousand shots of equine influenza vaccine will be imported for use in NSW, state Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald says. "The vaccine represents the next phase in the campaign to eradicate the exotic horse flu, which has now infected more than 1000 properties in NSW."

EI AFFECTED
OLYMPICS
Top Australian equestrian horses are stranded in the UK and Hong Kong indefinitely as a result of the equine flu lockdown, risking Australia's medal hopes for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

EQUITANA ASIA PACIFIC
The major equine trade fair Equitana Asia Pacific (Melbourne) has been postponed from the 15-18 November 2007 to 20- 23rd November 2008.

ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS ****
Postponed, alternative date under consideration

SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL 3DE
Important for Olympic qualification- see EFA web.

MELBOURNE ROYAL
No horse events at this year's show.

PONY CLUB CANCELLED
The Pony Club Association of Queensland has cancelled all events until the end of the year.

BREEDING SEASON ON HOLD
In the Thoroughbred industry breeding has been severely affected due to the ban on movement of horses into, out of or within Queensland and NSW. The collection of DNA samples for any horse residing in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory or Queensland IS NOT PERMITTED.

LATEST OUTBREAKS FIGURES (at the time of writing)
NSW 16/9/07 1063 infected properties including 9763 horses. 359 dangerous contact properties and 2720 suspect properties (1623 horses).
NSW 14/9/07 841 infected properties including 8353 horses. 357 dangerous contact properties (2731 horses) 257 suspect properties. (1809 horses)
NSW 9/9/07 375 infected properties, 365 dangerous contact properties and 177 suspect properties.
Qld 11/9/07 80 confirmed infected properties.
Qld 7/9/07 One horse tested positive late today in Julia Creek and one in Gordonvale, bringing the current number of properties in Queensland infected with Equine Influenza to 44.
Up to date information available from the DPI website in NSW and Qld - see Contacts

CONTACTS
AUSTRALIAN HORSE COUNCIL
All horse owners need to be aware that the Australian Horse Council has a contact database (HECD) where you can register. Those registered will receive regular and updated emails on Equine Influenza or any other disease should it enter Australia. it is no good bemoaning the fact that the response from the authorities was 'too slow' if we have not taken every opportunity to protect ourselves and our horses by registering on this early warning system. http://www.horsecouncil.org.au

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT EQUINE INFLUENZA PACKAGE 1800 234 002
NSW - Department of Primary Industry DPI has a registration program for all horses in restricted areas as part of a monitoring program to help track the disease. So far, more than 1500 owners have registered. The NSW hotline: 1800 675 888 Website: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/ horse/influenza

VIDEO OF EI SYMPTOMS
The video download file shows horses with some of the typical symptoms of equine influenza. http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/ influenza/information/what-is-equine-influenza QLD - Department of Primary Industry http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au WA - Department of Agriculture http://www.agric.wa.gov.au ph: 1800 675 888.

TASMANIA - Department of Primary Industry Check under Biosecurity heading for information pertaining to the interstate EI Outbreak, restrictions and permits applicable to Tasmania. http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/

VICTORIA - Department of Primary Industry EI hotline number: 1800 678 779 Web: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/ NT - Department of Primary Industry, Fishery and Mines http://www.nt.gov.au/dpifm/horses. Hotline 1800 675 888 SA - Department of Primary Industry & Resourses http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/horseflu/ne For permits ph: 1800 675 888.