Pferdegrippe in Australien

[angenita]

Pferderennen in ganz Australien wegen Pferdegrippe abgesagt

Sydney - In Australien sind am Samstag sämtliche Pferderennen abgesagt worden, nachdem mehrere Fälle von Pferdegrippe entdeckt worden waren. Landwirtschaftsminister Peter McGuaran teilte mit, das Verbot gelte zunächst für 72 Stunden. "Unsere oberste Priorität muss sein, dass die Krankheit sich nicht ausbreitet", sagte der Minister. Die Maßnahme folgte nach der Erkrankung von 16 Pferden in zwei Reitställen von Sydney. Eine der Anlagen liegt direkt neben einer großen Pferderennbahn. "Wenn die Krankheit auf andere Tiere übergreift, könnte das katastrophale Folgen haben", warnte McGuaran. In der australischen Rennbranche werden jährlich Milliarden umgesetzt.

(AFP)

(von www.aol.de)

und auf Englisch noch etwas ausfuehrlicher:

SYDNEY, Australia: Horseracing was shut down across the Australian mainland Saturday as racing and veterinary officials rushed to stem an outbreak of equine influenza imperiling the nation's multibillion dollar racing industry.

The moves followed the discovery of the highly contagious equine virus in 11 non-racehorses at the Centennial Park complex adjoining Sydney's Royal Randwick racecourse. Five horses at a second Sydney facility also showed symptoms of the disease.

Races were canceled as agriculture officials expanded to 10 kilometers (6 miles) an exclusion zone around the Centennial Park stables and banned all movement of horses within New South Wales state.

Agricultural Minister Peter McGauran said the equine flu outbreak was the biggest risk ever faced by the Australian thoroughbred industry.

"We've never had an introduction of influenza in the equine population of Australia ever before ... If it was to escape beyond the stable of the horses in Centennial Park, it would have a devastating effect on the horse population," McGauran told Sky News.

Racing officials in Queensland state later canceled seven thoroughbred and two standardbred meetings across the state over the weekend in response to the escalating crisis. Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia states also canceled racing Saturday, though scheduled events were expected to continue on the island of Tasmania.

Victorian racing officials also banned movements of racehorses within the state "until further notice".

"Equine influenza is not a fatal disease, on average affected horses recover within ten to fourteen days but it would have a disastrous impact on horse racing and breeding industries," Racing Victoria chief executive Stephen Allanson said.

"We will continue to assess the situation over the next 72 hours."

Equine influenza was first detected Thursday at separate facilities in New South Wales and Victoria, where some of the world's most valuable thoroughbred stallions had been imported from Britain for the Australian breeding season.

The imported stallions were to serve some 30,000 mares during the course of the season, and their unavailability — coupled with the cancellation of race meetings — was forecast to cost the racing industry billions of dollars.

Most of the impounded horses are thoroughbred stallions with an estimated collective value of more than 500 million Australian dollars (US$400 million, €295 million).

Among those quarantined were top sires Encosta De Lago, Rock Of Gibraltar, Choisir, Danehill Dancer and Holy Roman Emperor.

McGauran said chief veterinary officers from every state and territory would meet later Saturday to decide how to respond to the outbreak.

New Zealand officials Saturday banned all imports of horses from Australia and locked down the quarantine facility at Karaka, near Auckland. All horses that arrived in New Zealand from Australia since Aug. 1 were to be tracked and blood-tested.

Equine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease that knocks any horse out of action for two to three weeks with a fever, hacking cough, nasal discharge and tiredness. It can be fatal in foals and virtually all horses exposed to the virus become sickened, making it particularly dangerous — and costly — for the racing community.

The disease does not affect humans.

In 1986, an outbreak in South Africa forced that nation's racing industry to close down for five months.

Last weekend, officials in Japan shut down racing in that nation because of equine flu.

.................. Das ist grade bei uns um die Ecke los, und wird immer aufregender und auch angsterregend. Da NZ und Australien Inselstaaten sind, sind wir (bis jetzt) von vielen solchen Pferdekrankheiten nicht betroffen, und haben auch entsprechend harte Quarantaene-Vorschriften, aber anscheinend war das jetzt nicht genug. Es wird vermutet, das die Pferdegrippe aus Japan nach Australien kam, denn dort sind vor kurzem ein paar Faelle gemeldet worden, und kurz zuvor ist eine Ladung Pferde von Japan nach Australien gereist. Da es die Pferdegrippe in AU und NZ noch nie gab, sind unsere Pferde nicht dagegen geimpft, und falls es nicht rechtzeitig isoliert werden kann, koennte sich das Ganze wie ein Lauffeuer verbreiten - nicht auszudenken! Wir hoffen dringenst, dass es nicht in NZ gelandet ist, und natuerlich auch, dass die Australier die PG so schnell wie moeglich isolieren koennen.

*einoffiziellesforumsdaumendrueckenbeantrage*

LG Angenita

[kiki]

Oh mein Gott, sind eure Pferde denn viel unterwegs?
Sprich Tuniere, Pferdeschau, etc, wo sie mit anderen Pferden in Kontakt kommen können?

*dickdiedaumendrück*

Lohnt denn jetzt noch eine Impfung?
Weißt du näheres wie die Pferdegrippe übertragen wird?
(habe mich damit noch nicht so befasst, da meine geimpft sind )

[lalala]

August 26, 2007

Following the confirmation of Equine Influenza in horses stabled at Centennial Park in the centre of Sydney, the NSW Minister for Agriculture has cancelled all horse events and all horse movements in NSW. We have now received information that the standstill applies to the whole of Australia for at least 72 hours.

The FEI World Cup Eventing qualifier at Warwick, Qld., and associated national and international classes were cancelled today. There is a small number of horses with suspected Equine Influenza. As a consequence, all horses are being held on site at least until preliminary test results are confirmed this week. Approximately 280 horses are being held in a secure environment. The event organisers and the Qld. Department of Primary Industries have gone to great lengths to ensure the horses' welfare. Riders were complimentary about the way they were being kept informed and about the arrangements being made.

National Standstill Notice EI Questions and Answers National Equine Influenza Hotline: 1800 234 002

NSW issues orders ban all horse movements and horse events: Under Section 21 of the Exotic Diseases of Animals Act 1991, the declared control area is "The whole State Of NSW" Control Area , other than a restricted area ["CA"]

* The holding of markets, fairs, sales, shows, parades, race meetings or other gatherings or competitions involving animals or animal products to which this Order applies is prohibited * The presence or exposure of animals or animal products to which this Order applies is prohibited at any place where animals or animal products are exposed for sale;
* the presence or exposure of the animals to which this Order applies is prohibited at any place where animals are exposed for exhibition, parade, race meetings or any form of recreation or completion.

We urge all horse owners and riders not to transport their horses and to avoid making contact with other horses. They should thoroughly wash after contact with their horses. They should also watch out for any symptoms of infection in their horses, like a raised temperature, nasal discharge and coughing, and if present, report this firstly to their vet and, particluarly if groups of horses are involved, call the disease emergency hotline 1800 675 888.

All equestrian events are to be called off pending further information on the extent of the Equine Influenza outbreak, unless the relevant Department of Primary Industry gives permission subject to special conditions. In Queensland, for example, the Department of Primary Industries has issued a statement that includes the following:

"Queensland¹s Chief Veterinary Officer, Ron Glanville, said horse events which were already underway could proceed on advice from DPI&F officers. Events not yet underway should be deferred."

More info at www.efanational.com

[angenita]

Danke fuer's Daumendruecken. Wir beobachten die Situation in Australien gebannt. Im Augenblick sind wir in NZ nicht direkt von der Grippe betroffen, aber die Ereignisse drueben haben doch starken Einfluss auf uns, denn die australische und neuseelaendische Zucht- und Renn-Industrie sind sehr eng verbunden - die Australier sind die besten Kunden, die uns (auch persoenlich) Pferde abkaufen. Das Preisgeld ist dort besser, es gibt mehr Leute, mehr Pferde, mehr Trainer = mehr Geld. Viele neuseelaendische Stuten gehen jedes Jahr zu australischen Hengsten, auch viele Rennpferde, um dort zu starten. Wir haben grade keine Pferde drueben, nee stimmt nicht, eine Stute die wir im Juni dort gekauft haben und dagelassen haben, um in AU wieder decken zu lassen - die ist auch versichert.
Mensch, ich bin ganz geschlaucht davon. Das ist ja unser Unterhalt, ich hab wohl den Job an der Bank aber das ist ja eigentlich nix, sondern die Farm, und all die Pferde, die David's Vater gehoeren, und David arbeitet auf der Farm (und ich auch, abends und Wochenenden, hilf mit den Pferden und schicke die Rechnungen an die Kunden etc...) Und auch all die anderen Leute, die davon leben - haben schon von einer Bekannten gehoert, die drueben in einem Rennstall arbeitet - kommt nach Hause nach NZ, dort ist keine Arbeit mehr fuer sie, da die Pferde nicht im Training sind...

No Equine Influenza in New Zealand but breeding industry suffers

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: No trace of equine influenza has been found in horses in New Zealand but the existence of the disease in Australia was "a huge problem" already affecting the New Zealand breeding industry, Prime Minister Helen Clark said Monday.

Biosecurity officials have identified 97 horses that have arrived in New Zealand from Australia since August 1 and will take blood samples to ensure the highly contagious disease has not arrived here.

High priority has been accorded to horses which have arrived in New Zealand within the last 10 days.

"Any horse with suspected symptoms of equine influenza will be investigated immediately and blood samples will be collected to rule out infection," Biosecurity New Zealand said in a statement.

Airline passengers entering New Zealand from Australia are also being asked whether they have visited an affected area and, in some cases, personal luggage is being searched.

New Zealand's thoroughbred breeding industry has already been affected by an import ban in place since the Australian flu was discovered. Stallions bound for New Zealand from the northern hemisphere have been held in quarantine in Australia, jeopardizing the breeding season which starts on Sept. 1.

"Clearly if the epidemic ... was to spread it has very grave consequences for the breeding season and for future high-profile racing in our own country as well as in Australia," Clark said.

Asked about the economic damage from an outbreak, Clark said anything that impacts on the "injection into the gene pool" from "shuttle stallions" is a problem.

"The racing industry is a big employer in the country so its ability to pay its bills and pay the something around 30,000 people employed in the industry, is pretty significant," she added.