The continuing spread of equine influenza (horse flu) has resulted in the government declaring a 'buffer zone' at Bowral - about 15 minutes from us. The quarantine region has spread to Hill Top, about 30 minutes away. They are vaccinating all the horses in the buffer zone. I call it a Maginot Line. The flu can and has already jumped such small buffer areas. This is a big deal, because although horse flu has already been around the globe, Australia was isolated from it until now. Infection rates among non-vaccinated horses (as they all are here) are roughly 100%.
In related news, we finally got our horse out of the quarantine station, where he was sitting at the beginning (aka ground zero) of the outbreak. Except we couldn't move him anywhere close to us since he's been exposed (although vaccinated in America). So we had to move him into a 'purple zone', or somewhere the flu is already raging. You can see the pictures of his arrival here.
Imagine trying to get somebody to put up a horse that was at ground zero during the outbreak. Amanda made a lot of calls - and finally found one that would take him. It's on the other side of Sydney, about 2 1/2 hours away. But at least he's finally 'free' of the government station. He moved there over the weekend, and now we just have to wait until it's safe to bring him home finally - which could be another six months.
The government is asking us to put up roughly $90/day for the month or more that he was quarantined, plus daily vet checks. We haven't got the final bill yet, but it could be astronomical. Since he's a 'pleasure horse' (aka 'pet') and not a thoroughbred race horse, we don't qualify for all the government assistance that they provide to 'the industry'. This is a bit unfair, since they already have write-offs, and concessions, and insurance against such things. And to top it off, our horse wasn't part of the problem. He was vaccinated (as all horses coming into the country are supposed to be) and didn't get the flu even after a month around other infected horses. We're just caught in the middle of this fiasco and may have to pay through the nose for it.
Of course if the Maginot Line doesn't hold, we'll be sitting in a purple zone in the next few weeks and might be able to bring him home once the flu hits here - which it probably will.
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Hi Mike
I had not caught up with the exclusion zone around Bowral. I am not a "horsey person", but I do have an agisted horse on my block, as a weed eater.
You really have been caught up in a mess. Your comment that all imported horses are supposed to be immunised is interesting. Eventually someone will be hung out to dry for this, but not until after the election.
You could try suing the Government for your expenses. But seeing as it is the Government charging you for the expenses of Quarantine, I don't like your chances. The whole incident is outrageous!
Did you hear the report of the "clean-up" procedures at the airport? They blow out the mobile "stables" in which the horses travel on airplanes with a leaf blower! Large items which do not blow away, they bag securely, and burn. Amazingly stupid.
Cheers
Denis
> Did you hear the report of the "clean-up" procedures at the airport?
That would be funny if it weren't so tragic. The latest thinking is that the flu is jumping containment lines because of the wind. So the leaf blowers are merely blowing the pathogens into the air to be carried away from the planes and into the general population.
They vaccinated 500 horses at Bowral over the weekend and declared the operation a success - indicating they are done. Right. There are thousands of horses in the Highlands.
The only thing keeping the flu away from the Highlands at the moment is the wind direction.