Intervet awarded equine influenza vaccine contracts in New Zealand

Leading equine health manufacturer, Intervet, has been awarded contracts with the New Zealand racing authorities and MAF Biosecurity New Zealand (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry) to supply 120,000 doses of the equine ‘flu vaccine, Equilis Prequenza, for emergency use should the disease spread to New Zealand.

Currently the only country in the world to remain free of the disease, New Zealand is understood to be taking measures to protect its equine population.  These include an improvement to quarantine procedures to help prevent the disease from spreading across the Tasman Sea from Australia, where equine ‘flu has devastated the equine industry following an outbreak in 2007 which is now coming under control.

Equine ‘flu is not usually a fatal disease in adult horses, however horses in New Zealand which haven’t been exposed to the disease will have no resistance to infection.  This means the disease could spread very quickly throughout the equine population causing major welfare implications and disruption for the industry.

For further information on Equilis Prequenza, please contact your Intervet account manager.