Biosecurity and vaccination strategies to minimise the effect of an equine influenza outbreak on racing and breeding.

This research explores three biosecurity and relief-and-recovery strategies applied during the 2007 equine influenza (EI) outbreak in Australia. It shows how these strategies helped to minimize the economic and social impact of the disease outbreak on the horse racing industry.

Creating Biosecure Racing Precincts

The first approach outlined in this study was the setting up of bio-secure horse training and racing zones, particularly in the Sydney area. This strategy allowed horse racing to proceed while also keeping the participating horses healthy.

• These designated areas were carefully managed to exclude the EI infection for between 3 to 5 weeks.
• Even under these strict controls, race meetings proceeded smoothly and safely.

Vaccination Program

The second strategy this study discussed was a vaccination program that targeted racehorses in these and other precincts. This initiative aimed to maintain a healthy population of racehorses despite the EI outbreak.

• The vaccinations, however, commenced too late to have an immediate impact on racing in the Sydney area.
• Nonetheless, the vaccination program helped manage an early return to racing across the state even before they regained EI-free status.

Establishment of Quarantine Stations

The third approach was to establish approved quarantine stations, designed to aid in moving racing and breeding horses out of high-risk EI regions.

• These stations enabled the safe transport of horses from regions where the EI incursion was high.
• The study discusses the challenges encountered in setting up and managing these initiatives amidst an EI outbreak.

In conclusion, these proactive measures undertaken by the horse racing industries in NSW mitigated the economic and social disruption brought by the 2007 EI outbreak. By understanding these different techniques and their potential hurdles, similar strategies could be employed in the future outbreaks to reduce their impact and ensure the continuity of the horse racing industry.