The Australian horse industry received some welcome news with the anouncement from the New South Wales Government that the devastating equine influenza outbreak has been eradicated.
Since August of last year there has been a state-wide lockdown preventing all horse movements and forcing the cancellation of every horse event in New South Wales. The most heavily infected zone covered the area around Sydney and the Hunter Valley and the Illawarra region. Ian Macdonald, New South Wales Minister for Primary Industries announced: "More than 47,000 horses on 6,000 properties have now recovered from equine influenza infection and no longer carry the disease." As of 28th February, all permit and testing requirements for moving horses within the State have been lifted. This announcement has come at a good time for the NSW racing industry with important race meetings approaching.