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16.
AHIC
Applauds Quarantine Action
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05/09/2002 |
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The
Australian Horse Industry Council has congratulated the quarantine authorities
for their action and decisions in last week's case of a horse that became sick
during quarantine in Sydney.
Horse Council president Dr Paul O'Callaghan said "The horse was only
released after a risk assessment based on sound science and good consultation.
"The Post Arrival Quarantine has once again proved its value. The taking of
blood from all horses on arrival, a practice introduced for the 2000 Olympics,
was invaluable in determining the cause of the horse's illness."
A standardbred stallion that arrived in Sydney on August 12 from Canada via
Chicago became ill 5 days after arrival. The stallion showed a fever and severe
nervous signs including muscle tremors and in coordination.
Diseases under consideration included West Nile virus (WNV) or other
viruses that are spread by insects which might cause encephalitis and rabies.
The horse was isolated and treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and
insecticides. The horse had current vaccination
for EEE, WEE, rabies and EHV1.
Samples were taken and forwarded to Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural
Institute (EMAI) and the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL),
Geelong.
Over 7 days the condition of the horse stabilised and it gradually returned to
full health. This recovery ruled out rabies as a cause of the illness.
During this time the Eastern Creek Quarantine Station contained 49 thoroughbred
stallions, due to begin stud duty from September 1. They were detained in
quarantine beyond their scheduled release date and released on August 30.
Another batch of horses, mostly mares, was due to arrive on August 27. The next
intake of horses was diverted to Spotswood Quarantine Station in Victoria or
postponed.
West Nile Virus is carried by birds and is spread by mosquitoes. WNV has caused
illness and deaths of humans and horses in the eastern United States in the past
2 years.
WNV infection has been recorded in Canadian birds but the virus has not been
identified in mosquitoes or horses there. However, in the state of Illinois
there have been 23 confirmed cases of WNV infection in horses this year.
The stallion was not housed in insect proof stables while in the Chicago area.
Authorities have concluded that this horse was affected by WNV based on the
following:
* the clinical signs (fever and nervous signs) were typical
* the increase in antibody levels over the course of the illness
* exposure to mosquitoes in an affected area in the US
* the time between the exposure and first signs being consistent with the
reported incubation period for WNV infection in the horse.
Horses and humans are "dead end" hosts for WNV. They do not spread the
virus by contact and are not capable of infecting mosquitoes.
Therefore this horse was not a risk for other horses or for humans. The fact
that there were no mosquitoes in the area gave added confidence that the disease
was not spread from the Quarantine Station.
A teleconference of state and federal veterinary chiefs and horse industry
representatives agreed with quarantine authorities that all the horses held in
quarantine could be released without risk of transmitting the disease in
Australia.
Public health authorities were also consulted prior to the release of the
horses.
AHIC Release
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