EQUINE INFLUENZA
At the National Equine Influenza Summit held in Sydney on Thursday, 25th September, the Australian Racing Board strongly endorsed the objectives of the meeting and looks forward to on-going rational discussion leading to a timely resolution of the vaccination issue.
The presentation by the National Manager of AQIS, Dr Ann McDonald, further illustrated the recent changes in the on-going management of equine quarantine that were recommended by the Callinan Enquiry as further security in the fight to ensure Equine Influenza does not resurface due to inadequate or complacent quarantine measures.
ARB Chairman, Bob Pearson commented:
“Even with these additional measures, the thoroughbred industry remains strongly committed to vaccination as a means of insurance. We strongly endorse the proposal by the NSW Minister for Primary Industries, The Hon Ian Macdonald, of forming a high level Council to further examine and report on vaccination and its possible implementation either by law or voluntary industry regulations. Furthermore, the Equine Influenza Summit has ensured that the position of thoroughbreds, and particularly the Australian Racing Board, Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Australian National Racehorse Owners Association is now firmly entrenched on public record.”
The Summit was also addressed by eminent overseas experts Dr David Powell from Maxwell H Gluck Equine Research Centre, USA and Professor Ann Cullinane who currently heads the Virology Unit at the Irish Equine Centre. The thoroughbred sector engaged these experts along with our own Australian experts to further inform on the very important question of vaccination.
“I look forward to further economic modelling, high level Council discussions, and the review of current and prior regulations with a view to ensuring that our industry is never left exposed to such economic devastation in the future on the scale that was experienced in the months following the August 2007 outbreak. Importantly the availability of vaccination as a further insurance against any future equine influenza may enable our industry to not be subjected to the extended period of shut down should it reoccur in the future.”
RC (Bob) Pearson, Chairman, Australian Racing Board
End.
Please direct all enquiries to:
RC (Bob) Pearson
Chairman, Australian Racing Board Ltd
Phone: 0417 921 483
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