KEY POINTS:
Veterinarians have started injecting thoroughbred racehorses in Queensland's south east with the first batch of equine influenza (EI) vaccine.
Queensland Racing Limited (QRL) operations manager Malcolm Tuttle confirmed the vaccination programme started early yesterday around racetracks on the Gold and Sunshine coasts as well as Ipswich and Toowoomba.
"We're hoping to dispatch around 2000 vaccinations today," Tuttle said. "Further vaccinations will be administered tomorrow and by Monday we will have administered more than 5000."
He said the horses would need to be re-vaccinated in 21 days to ensure full protection from the flu.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Biosecurity Queensland chief veterinary officer, Ron Glanville, said the state had been allocated 9240 vaccination shots in the first shipment.
Dr Glanville reminded horse owners that vaccination does not provide immediate protection and that strict movement controls were still in place in the red zone, where EI had been diagnosed.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced a A$20 million ($23.76m) package to assist the industry. It included an initial A$5 million to provide one-off payments for individuals and families.
Up to A$155 is available for individuals and A$750 for families.
It also included A$10 million to help struggling businesses meet interest payments on new or existing loans.
Up to A$5000 is available in dollar-for-dollar subsidies.
A A$5 million recovery package will help the horse industry retain skilled employees.
- AAP
