Farm Biosecurity has released a very useful free guide for management of mosquitos around horses.
Access To Japanese Encephalitis Virus Human Vaccine (Victoria)
Latest update: All staff working on stud farms in areas affected by the floods are now eligible to be vaccinated against Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV).
While there are currently no confirmed cases of JEV in Victoria, the recent flooding and heavy rainfall can mean a greater risk of infections spread by mosquitoes.
Vaccination against JEV is now available for anyone aged two months or older who:
Lives, or routinely works, in a high-risk area and spends significant time outdoors (four hours per day), for unavoidable work, recreational, educational or other essential activities, or
Is living in temporary or flood-damaged accommodation that places them at an increased risk of exposure to mosquitoes, or
Is engaged in the prolonged clean-up of stagnant waters following floods.
The vaccine is free for people who meet these criteria and is available from local councils and local public health units, including some COVID-19 vaccination hubs. Select GPs and community pharmacies can also provide the vaccine itself for free, but may charge a fee for the administration.
People living in areas experiencing mosquito activity should undertake these protective measures now and over the coming months to protect themselves against not just JEV, but other mosquito-borne diseases for which no vaccine is available – including Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Murray Valley encephalitis.
For further information, please visit the Victorian Department of Health website here.
Agriculture Victoria Media Release: Japanese Encephalitis
Important information from Agriculture Victoria on the developing situation with Japanese Encephalitis
Warnings of an increasing risk of animal disease outbreaks.
Disease outbreaks aren’t something that only the pig, poultry and beef industries need to be aware of.
The incidence of African Horse Sickness in Thailand last year shows that us that as horse owners we need to remain informed and vigilant.
The AHIC works closely with Animal Health Australia to help spread the word of the importance of bio-security for the horse industry.
“Peace time preparedness is so important. The horse industry and horse owners, cannot be complacent. Compared to other countries we are blessed with the low incidence of serious equine diseases and we need to work together to ensure this remains the case” said Mark Burnell, President of the AHIC.
ABC Landline today (Sunday) at 1230 on ABC (and later on iview) will feature more on this story from ABC Rural.
BIOSECURITY ALERT - African Horse Sickness
Important information from NSW Department of Primary Industries | Biosecurity and Food Safety on the growing concern around the spread of the African Horse Sickness in Asia-Pacific. We will continue to share information as it becomes available.
Horse Industry Consultative Committee latest meeting.
The Horse Industry Consultative Committee (HICC) is the principal consultative forum for the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DAWE) to engage with industry on equine biosecurity, quarantine and market access issues, and related animal health and welfare matters. Dr Patricia Ellis represents the Australian Horse Industry Council on the HICC.
The HICC most recently met by teleconference on 23 April 2020.
Items discussed at the HICC meeting included:
· an update on operations at the Mickleham post entry quarantine station
· the type of swab used for taking samples for equine influenza
· the impact of COVID 19 on the international movement of flying grooms
· a review of the glanders status of different countries
· African horse sickness in Thailand
· national horse traceability
· identification requirements for horse imported from New Zealand
· import clearance of horses at seaports
For more detail - the minutes of the meeting have been published on the DAWE website: