Speeding virus
From the October 2007 edition of Agriculture Today.
The most advanced technology has played a crucial role in the early halt to horse movements in Australia’s first outbreak of equine influenza.
Testing more than 600 samples per day, the Virology Laboratory at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute - the only one with equipment of its kind in Australia - rapidly delivered results to the NSW Chief Veterinary Officer, Bruce Christie.
When the first case was detected at Centennial Park in late August, the results supported a call for the horse standstill and gave the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the horse industry the potential to contain and eradicate the disease.
"Although many thousands of horses are infected and a large number of properties are involved, this test has underpinned efforts to reduce the spread of the virus," NSW DPI Virology laboratory leader, Dr Peter Kirkland said.
"Using robotic test equipment, highly skilled staff at the Institute are providing a sustained effort at a level rarely achieved in a veterinary laboratory anywhere in the world."
Although the picture in NSW is serious, Dr Kirkland likened the current spread of the virus to a fire burning at the edges of a contained area, compared to what could have occurred on a national level without the quick response.
"What is indisputable is how fast the virus moves," he said.
"Equine flu can spread by physical contact, from animal to animal, human equipment and clothing to animals and by air.
"The extent of spread of EI in NSW in the first couple of weeks demonstrated that humans are the only animals that are more mobile on the planet than horses."
A large team from the Regional Veterinary Laboratory and the Virology Laboratory at the Institute is sustaining the necessary testing, with additional support from colleagues brought from interstate.
The results are being relayed to teams at the Local Disease Control Centre at Camden and State Disease Control Headquarters in Orange to help map the distribution of the virus, quarantine affected properties and plan future disease control strategies.
