Australia has never had equine influenza, nor has New Zealand. All that changed on Thursday. By Saturday, the entire country was in a lockdown, with all transport of horses, feed, and bedding stopped dead in their hoofprints.
Here's the word from one of the two national farrier associations there:
"The Australian Farriers and Blacksmiths Association (AFBA) wishes to advise farriers that they should take precautions when visiting their client's horses. It is suggested that you ring your local DPI and find out the best procedures to follow, I would suggest that the same procedure that a vet would have to follow would be appropriate.
"However in the meantime it would be a good idea to ring clients before visiting and find out if their horses are showing any signs of illness, however whether they are or not it would be suggested that you purchase some disinfectant and hand sanitiser gel, the gel for hands and disinfectant in a spray bottle that can be put on your shoes, and tools etc."
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