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Home / Equine Research Bank / Aust Vet J / Overview of the 2007 Australian outbreak of equine influenza...
Australian veterinary journal2011; 89 Suppl 1; 3-4; doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2011.00721.x

Overview of the 2007 Australian outbreak of equine influenza.

Abstract: In August 2007 equine influenza (EI) was diagnosed in Australia's horse population following the failure to contain infection in quarantine after the importation of one or more infected horses. The response had many unique features, and addressed financial, social, economic, human and animal health, trade and recovery issues. The outbreak and the associated control measures had a vast impact on individual horse owners, the horse industry and associated sectors in both infected and uninfected states.
© 2011 Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). Australian Veterinary Journal © 2011 Australian Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2011-07-08 PubMed ID: 21711267DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2011.00721.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study provides an in-depth analysis of the 2007 equine influenza (EI) outbreak in Australia, discussing the causes, effects and measures taken beyond quarantine to manage the situation impacting the horse industry and the economy.

Causes of the Outbreak

The study primarily identifies that the outbreak was caused due to a failure in containing infection in quarantine after the importation of one or more horses with the virus. This implies:

  • The quarantine measures that were supposed to screen and prevent the spread of such infectious diseases failed to function effectively.
  • The imported horses were already carriers of the equine influenza virus which went undetected during the quarantine checks.

Unique Features of the Response

The response to this EI outbreak had many unique facets:

  • It didn’t solely focus on controlling the viral spread among the horse population. Instead, it was multi-dimensional, addressing financial, social, economic and trade issues linked with the equine industry.
  • The response had a human health perspective too since humans can become infected with the equine influenza virus, although they don’t typically get sick from it.

Impact of Outbreak and Control Measures

There was considerable impact caused by the outbreak and control measures:

  • The outbreak had a massive effect on individual horse owners and the entire horse industry. Both in infected and uninfected states, people had to deal with the restrictions imposed to control the virus spread.
  • The situation also influenced associated sectors, presumably the feed suppliers, veterinarians, racing industry, and others dependent on the equine industry.
  • Numerous financial and economic challenges were faced due to the trade restrictions, restrictions on horse movement, culling of infected horses, and other measures implemented to control the outbreak.

Recovery Issues

The article briefly mentions the recovery issues:

  • Rebuilding the horse population after the outbreak might have come up as a significant challenge.
  • The recovery of the economic losses incurred during the outbreak could have been difficult and slow.

Cite This Article

APA
Webster WR. (2011). Overview of the 2007 Australian outbreak of equine influenza. Aust Vet J, 89 Suppl 1, 3-4. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.2011.00721.x

Publication

Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 1751-0813
NlmUniqueID: 0370616
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 89 Suppl 1
Pages: 3-4

Researcher Affiliations

Webster, W R
  • Biosecurity Queensland, Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, GPO Box 46, Brisbane 4001, Australia. karenrick4065au@bigpond.com

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / prevention & control
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Horses
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / immunology
  • Influenza A Virus, H3N8 Subtype / isolation & purification
  • Influenza Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Influenza Vaccines / immunology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / prevention & control
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / veterinary
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / virology

Citations

This article has been cited 10 times.
  1. Mojsiejczuk L, Whitlock F, Chen H, Magill C, Aranday-Cortes E, Bone J, Tong L, Da Silva Filipe A, Bryant N, Newton JR, Chambers TM, Reedy SE, Nemoto M, Yamanaka T, Hughes J, Murcia PR. Multiple introductions of equine influenza virus into the United Kingdom resulted in widespread outbreaks and lineage replacement. PLoS Pathog 2025 Jun;21(6):e1013227.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1013227pubmed: 40489557google scholar: lookup
  2. Germann JA, O'Sullivan TL, Greer AL, Spence KL. Predictors and barriers for biosecurity uptake and risk understanding among Ontario horse owners. Can Vet J 2025 Mar;66(3):288-297.
    pubmed: 40070939
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    doi: 10.1111/jvim.16978pubmed: 38141173google scholar: lookup
  4. White N, Pelzel-McCluskey A. Cross-Sectional Survey of Horse Owners to Assess Their Knowledge and Use of Biosecurity Practices for Equine Infectious Diseases in the United States. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 17;13(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13223550pubmed: 38003167google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.1111/avj.13195pubmed: 36106431google scholar: lookup
  6. Reemers S, Sonnemans D, Horspool L, van Bommel S, Cao Q, van de Zande S. Determining Equine Influenza Virus Vaccine Efficacy-The Specific Contribution of Strain Versus Other Vaccine Attributes. Vaccines (Basel) 2020 Sep 3;8(3).
    doi: 10.3390/vaccines8030501pubmed: 32899189google scholar: lookup
  7. Rosanowski SM, Carpenter TE, Adamson D, Rogers CW, Pearce P, Burns M, Cogger N. An economic analysis of a contingency model utilising vaccination for the control of equine influenza in a non-endemic country. PLoS One 2019;14(1):e0210885.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210885pubmed: 30677067google scholar: lookup
  8. Paillot R, El-Hage CM. The Use of a Recombinant Canarypox-Based Equine Influenza Vaccine during the 2007 Australian Outbreak: A Systematic Review and Summary. Pathogens 2016 Jun 10;5(2).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens5020042pubmed: 27294963google scholar: lookup
  9. Weese JS. Infection control and biosecurity in equine disease control. Equine Vet J 2014 Nov;46(6):654-60.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12295pubmed: 24802183google scholar: lookup
  10. Schemann K, Firestone SM, Taylor MR, Toribio JA, Ward MP, Dhand NK. Perceptions of vulnerability to a future outbreak: a study of horse managers affected by the first Australian equine influenza outbreak. BMC Vet Res 2013 Jul 31;9:152.
    doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-152pubmed: 23902718google scholar: lookup
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