From the horse’s mouth: perceptions of the management of the 2007 equine influenza outbreak in Australia.

The research article explores the perceptions of horse owners and managers in Australia, about the management of the 2007 equine influenza outbreak. It concludes that the efficiency of outbreak communications and government support and the likelihood of future outbreaks can significantly impact these perceptions, and recommends a review of these systems to promote better relations between managers and authorities, as well as future compliance with regulations.

Overview of the Research

• The study is focused on understanding the perception of the management of the 2007 horse flu outbreak in Australia. The outbreak, first of its kind in the country, spread widely but was managed to be controlled within 5 months by state animal health authorities.
• Despite the control measures, the outbreak caused serious effects on horse owners and others in the industry. This study aims to understand their perceptions towards the management of the outbreak by health authorities.
• The research involved face-to-face interviews with participants. The responses were recorded and rated on an ordinal scale with categories being ‘well managed’, ‘adequately managed’, and ‘poorly managed’.

Statistical Analysis and Findings

• The study employed ordinal logistic regression to identify factors associated with different ratings of perception. This allows the researcher to understand which factors significantly affect the likelihood of a certain perception of the outbreak management.
• The findings indicate that involvement in horse competitions or sporting events, managing a horse stud, and a belief in the high likelihood of a future influenza outbreak within the next 5 years, all contributed to a reduced likelihood of ‘well-managed’ outbreak response ratings, after adjustments for age and gender.
• Content analyses of the reasons for these ratings pointed out two primary factors: outbreak communications and government efficiency/support. These factors were consistently mentioned as strengths and weaknesses in the same proportions (30% and 28% respectively for strengths, 40% and 30% respectively for weaknesses).

Recommendations for Future disease Control

• The research recommends reviewing existing outbreak communications and outbreak information systems to ensure more efficient management of any future outbreaks.
• The research also suggests that this review would help in building a better rapport between manager and government and ensuring better future compliance with disease control regulations.