EI confirmed on Emirates Park NSW

SEPTEMBER, 2007: Dr Shalabh Sahu, director of operations of Emirates Park, has confirmed that Equine Influenza (EI) has been contracted by horses housed on the stud’s Hunter Valley headquarters located at Murrurundi.

In making the development public, Dr Sahu explained: “We introduced rigid quarantine procedures immediately on learning of the original EI outbreak in Sydney.

“However, it would seem that the nature of this disease would clearly establish that containment fundamentally proves to be ineffective no matter what radical steps are put into place.

“One of the teasers on our property showed clinical signs of EI on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 5, 2007, with both the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the Rural Land Protection Board being informed immediately on discovery.

“This teaser, along with two thoroughbred mares and a Clydesdale with a foal-at-foot, were subsequently sampled by an independent veterinarian.

“Results released on Saturday, September 8, 2007, confirmed that the teaser and the Clydesdale were found positive to EI.

“The property has been on standstill since the EI positives were confirmed, with stringent restrictions placed on all employees of the stud.

“In light of this sequence of events, I urge the Commonwealth Government and the thoroughbred breeding bodies of Australia to come up with immediate measures to minimize the loss likely to be caused by EI this breeding season, as well as concrete strategies put into place for the long-term viability of the industry.”