Imports in clear after EI scare at Eastern Creek

AN EQUINE influenza scare at the Eastern Creek quarantine station has been resolved, with overseas horses feared to have brought the dreaded virus into the area instead reported to be suffering from equine herpes, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.Its report adds: Racing NSW officials were happy to hear of the lesser and more common virus being detected, with memories of the EI outbreak in NSW and Queensland in 2007 flooding back.Racing in Sydney and Brisbane was shut down for months when the fi

AN EQUINE influenza scare at the Eastern Creek quarantine station has been resolved, with overseas horses feared to have brought the dreaded virus into the area instead reported to be suffering from equine herpes, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Its report adds: Racing NSW officials were happy to hear of the lesser and more common virus being detected, with memories of the EI outbreak in NSW and Queensland in 2007 flooding back.

Racing in Sydney and Brisbane was shut down for months when the first EI outbreak in Australia was found to have originated from Eastern Creek on the eve of the 2007 Sydney spring carnival.

A subsequent inquiry found that procedures in place at Eastern Creek at that time led to the devastating outbreak.

Andy Carroll, the chief veterinary officer of the state Department of Agriculture, yesterday issued a release stating that "stronger biosecurity measures were put in place at government quarantine stations following the 2007 outbreak of EI, including a more stringent vaccination and testing regime for EI".