Pests & Diseases News
There is currently no evidence of equine influenza in New Zealand. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) is growing more confident that the virus has not arrived in the country as investigations into the 97 horses imported from Australia progress and time passes.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has classified as high priority 14 premises that have received horses from Australia in the last ten days. MAFBNZ is in the process of collecting blood samples from these animals for testing. Samples will be completed by the end of tomorrow (Tuesday) and test results are expected early next week.
Following confirmation from the Australian Government that a number of horses in New South Wales and Queensland have symptoms of equine influenza, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) has moved quickly to trace horses that have entered the country from Australia since 1 August 2007.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand announced this afternoon that it has halted all imports of horses from Australia upon receiving notification from the Australian Government that horses in New South Wales are suspected to have contracted equine influenza.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (MAFBNZ) surveillance completed in July confirmed varroa has not spread outside of the Controlled Area at the top of the South Island.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand is constantly on the look out for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) because of the significant threat it presents to New Zealand's biologically-based economy. Therefore, the confirmation of FMD in cattle on a farm in Surrey, England, is no cause for alarm.
The latest findings from MAF Biosecurity New Zealand's Didymosphenia geminata (didymo) science programme were presented to the Didymo Technical Advisory Group and Long-Term Management partners at a seminar held in Wellington today.
Divers are braving the chilly waters of Bluff Port this week, wrapping wharf piles and structures in plastic sheeting as part of a programme to protect the precious Fiordland marine environment from invasive marine pests.
Divers are braving the chilly waters of Bluff Port this week, wrapping wharf piles and structures in plastic sheeting as part of a programme to protect the precious Fiordland marine environment from invasive marine pests.