title: Biosecurity and vaccination strategies to minimise the effect of an equine influenza outbreak on racing and breeding.
abstract: Three biosecurity and relief-and-recovery initiatives adopted by the NSW horse racing industries reduced the economic and social disruption caused by the disease and subsequent movement controls during the 2007 Australian equine influenza (EI) incursion. The first was the creation of biosecure horse training and racing precincts around the Sydney area to permit racing to continue with healthy horses. Infection was excluded for 3-5 weeks and race meetings were conducted safely during this period. The second was a vaccination program of racehorses at these and other precincts to maintain an ongoing healthy pool of racehorses. Vaccination commenced too late to enable viable racing to continue in Sydney in the short term, but assisted in managing an early return to racing throughout the state before EI-free status had been regained. The third was the establishment of approved quarantine stations to facilitate the movement of racing and breeding horses out of high-risk regions. The difficulties in establishing and managing these initiatives in the face of the EI incursion are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Industry & Investment NSW, Orange, New South Wales 2800, Australia. rory.arthur@industry.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Suann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology*; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D053123:Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary*; D011790:Quarantine / Q000662:veterinary; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013177:Sports; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines