Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation

|| Home || Search || Contact || Publications Eshop || Privacy Statement ||

Download full report ( 870k - HINT: right click and save the file to your hard disk before opening)
or purchase the printed report online

July 2002

RIRDC Publication No 02/054  RIRDC Project No US-103A

Executive Summary

Australia is in the privileged position of being free of many of the serious infectious diseases of horses that are found elsewhere in the world. This freedom has occurred as a result of our relative isolation and to the diligence of our quarantine services. However, in this era of increasing globalisation and international movement of horses, the risk for introduction of an exotic disease to our equine population is increasing. Naturally, it is important to recognise the benefits that the Australian horse industry has received due to the movement and trade of horses and semen. However, it is equally important to ensure our continued freedom from these serious infectious diseases. In order to prevent their entry to Australia everyone in the horse industry has a responsibility and must play a part.

There are a number of simple but important things that we can all do to help stop the introduction of an exotic disease:
 

1. Know which diseases of horses are exotic to Australia.
2. Know which of these exotic diseases are most likely to be introduced to Australia.
3. Know how these diseases may be introduced to Australia and how they may spread around the country if they are introduced.
4. Be able to recognise the (clinical) signs that an infected horse may have.
5. Know who to contact should you suspect an exotic disease and remember if you “see anything usual” then “look, check and ask a vet…”
6. Know the procedures that should be done when any newly introduced horse is brought onto a property, but particularly an imported horse.
7. Understand the risk factors that may help to increase the likelihood for the introduction of an exotic disease.
8. Understand the consequence of an outbreak of an exotic disease.


The goal of this manual is to make everyone that comes into contact with horses familiar with the exotic diseases that can affect this species and to outline what you can do to help prevent the introduction of these diseases to our country. It is only with the vigilance of all those involved in the industry that our horses can remain free of these important diseases.

 


Site map Contact us Feedback Links Disclaimer Privacy Statement

Last updated: 2 July 2002
Copyright RIRDC
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HOR/02-054sum.html