THE equine influenza (EI) outbreak that devastated horse-related industries is contained, the nation's chief veterinary officer says.
Andy Carroll of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry said government officials visiting the infected areas of Queensland and NSW had determined the virus was contained and unlikely to return.
"We have a large number of already immune horses because they've had the disease or they've been vaccinated," Dr Carroll said on ABC television.
"We also are quite conservative before moving an area or a property from infected to clean. We take a conservative stance and we don't see a large risk of areas reverting back."
An inquiry into the outbreak which began last August is being overseen by retired High Court judge Ian Callinan.
Mr Callinan is expected to hand down his findings before April 25.
The first case of EI in Australia was detected at Sydney's Eastern Creek quarantine facility on August 23 in a thoroughbred stallion which had travelled from the northern hemisphere and was awaiting release.
The outbreak, which brought horse racing to a halt in NSW and Queensland, is estimated to have cost the industry more than $500 million.
Source:www.news.com.au
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