Equine Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease of all equidae including horses, donkeys, mules and zebra. To date, horses in New Zealand have not contracted any cases of influenza.
Protecting horses from contagious diseases
The agreement with the Equine Health Association formalizes a partnership with the New Zealand government to improve biosecurity readiness and response, and gives equine interests a direct say in managing biosecurity risks.
Horse industries have signed a deal with the New Zealand government to help protect them it from an outbreak of this among other costly equine diseases.
The deal with the Equine Health Association formalizes a partnership with the New Zealand government to improve biosecurity readiness and response, and means equine interests will have a direct say in managing biosecurity risks.
It's aimed at helping stop or deal with diseases like equine influenza, a 2007 outbreak of which is estimated to have cost the Australian horse industry more than A$100 million.
EHA chairman Ivan Bridge says a similar outbreak in New Zealand would almost certainly stop all movement of horses.
"Were this to occur midway through the year, it is probable all breeding would shut down. The cost would certainly run into tens of millions of dollars and potentially much more," he said.
"The importance of protecting our industry from disease incursions cannot be overstated."
Dr Bridge said New Zealand was now the only country in the world with a significant equine population where equine influenza has never occurred.