Australian Horse Industry Council (AHIC) President, Dr Roger Lavelle, today said
that any decision by the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) to allow for
voluntary vaccination of horses against Equine Influenza would conflict with the
views of the vast majority of the equine industry.
Dr Lavelle called on Primary Industry Ministers to listen and heed the concerns of the
broad horse industry, “The clear majority of horse breeders and owners in Australia
vigorously oppose voluntary vaccination as they recognise it can only hurt Australia’s
horse industry if it was allowed. It is amazing to think that the weight of scientific and
veterinary opinion which universally warns that vaccination will mask the presence of
EI in infected animals and facilitate the silent spread of disease, could be ignored –
yet, this is exactly what a minority sector of the horse industry has asked PIMC to
consider”.
“Any decision to allow for vaccination would spell the end of Australia’s reputation as
being a country relatively free of disease. It would be an admission of failure that the
equine industry and Government authorities haven’t been able to contain and
remove EI from Australia. That is plainly wrong,” he said.
Allowing for voluntary vaccination will mean that infected animals will be able to
transmit the disease to non-vaccinated animals. The reality of this is that EI will
spread over time throughout the country. That will only hurt Australia’s horse
industry, from mum’s and dad’s with their weekend ponies right through to the horse
racing industry itself as mounting a response would be futile.
Dr Lavelle also said that voluntary vaccination would make a mockery of Australia’s
quarantine system, “Australia spent $100 million in response to the Equine Influenza
outbreak in 2007 and a further $280 million in financial assistance for the horse
industry. Allowing for voluntary vaccination now would make that a massive waste of
taxpayer money, not to mention the costs associated with two inquiries and a
number of independent reports. Exporters of horses to New Zealand will also be
slugged with a hefty quarantine bill and 5-week wait in quarantine when current
movement, other than transportation, is free.
The AHIC is united in its belief that the most effective response to any future Equine
Influenza outbreak remains comprehensive and effective risk mitigation via strong
quarantine protocols rather than a costly and unnecessary vaccination program
which will make the costs of eradication last time look minor”. In the 33 months
since the first outbreak of EI in Australia, enhanced quarantine controls arising from
the Callinan Inquiry’s recommendations have meant that there have been no further
EI outbreaks in Australia
“PIMC should reject calls for vaccination and ensure the enhanced quarantine
protocols are maintained and support the progress being made toward signing
EADRA, before making a decision that could potentially compromise Australia’s
horse industry,” he said.
The Australian Horse Industry Council is the national representative body serving the
Australian horse industry.