Fed: No known risk of people catching horse flu - Abbott

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2007
Fed: No known risk of people catching horse flu - Abbott

CANBERRA, Aug 26 AAP - There is no known risk of the equine influenza detected in NSW
passing from horses to people, federal Health Minister Tony Abbott says.

The outbreak among recreational horses in Sydney's Centennial Park has caused a national
shutdown of the horse racing and breeding industry.

The Centennial Park outbreak came after the suspected detection of horse flu in the
Eastern Creek quarantine centre which prompted a 30-day lockdown there and at Spotswood
in Victoria.

A further case has since been detected in rural NSW, said federal Agriculture Minister
Peter McGauran, while Queensland Premier Peter Beattie today said three horses had been
quarantined at a major horse event, the Equestrian World Cup qualifier, in Queensland's
south after returning suspect results in an influenza test.

Mr Abbott today said there were no fears of the disease spreading to humans.

"My understanding is that this is purely a problem for horses," he told the Nine Network.

"I don't believe there is any significant risk of this thing doing a jump from species
to species.

"That's more of a problem with influenza in animals like birds and pigs."

Mr Abbott said it was not yet known how the equine flu was brought to Australia.

"It's too early to say.

"This is all being investigated as quickly as possible."

The minister said the current ban on movement of horses may affect security at next
week's APEC summit in Sydney if mounted police could not be deployed.

"That's something to be decided nearer the time. But, obviously, security is very important
at APEC and I accept that mounted police have an important role to play.

"I suspect it will be slightly more difficult to ensure crowd control (without them).

"Maybe this will be an incentive for any protesters to behave rather better than otherwise
might have been the case."

AAP pw/jl/cdh

KEYWORD: STALLIONS ABBOTT

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