EI infiltrates Darley Australia

Australia's equine influenza

epidemic has reached the New South Wales base of Darley. Although

the facility was under complete lockdown, three high-priced

yearlings residing at the Hunter Valley farm have been confirmed

with the virus. 

"EI is spreading quickly and we were not surprised when a

small number of our yearlings began to display clinical signs of

the virus," Darley's Australian General Manager Oliver Tait

said. "We contacted the DPI (Department of Primary Industries) immediately and their tests confirmed that it has

reached our property."

Darley's NSW neighbours include Segenhoe,

where a teaser pony tested positive over the weekend. In addition

to strictly adhering to biosecurity protocols, Darley had been

restricting the movement of people and horses on and off the

property since August 26.

"It is apparent that the virus is

airborne, as our NSW property has been in lockdown for two

weeks," Tait added. "We have continually been seeking advice from

leading epidemiologists in the UK and USA since the outbreak of

EI in Australia and their advice to us is that vaccination is

unequivocally the only way forward. Containment efforts have

probably assisted in slowing the spread of the virus, but it is

clear that they have not stopped it. Surely now we must focus on

a vaccination strategy rather than a restriction of movement in

order to stop the spread of EI into other parts of Australia. We

have a stud in Victoria and I naturally have concerns it will, in

time, also become a victim of EI."

The DPI is still resisting

vaccination, which will cost around A$200 per horse.