Equine flu beaten in NSW, restrictions lifted

New South Wales has won its six-month fight against equine influenza.

The state government announced today that the outbreak had been beaten, and all permit and testing requirements within the state had been lifted.

"It's official, horse flu has now been eradicated from NSW," Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald announced.

"Many international experts were pessimistic of our chances, but again we have demonstrated our proud history of successfully eradicating animal diseases," he said.

Staff working on disease eradication have been unable to locate any cases since December, this despite the testing for isolated pockets of infection on 10,000 properties in the once highly infected purple zone, where in the darkest day more than half of the horse properties were infected.

"The only remaining precautionary requirements to move a horse are prior notification with a Travelling Horse Statement (THS) and event registration.

"The once heavily infected purple zone and the Illawarra red zone have been abolished and replaced with a minimal risk green zone. All other areas join the white zone.

"For the first time since August 25 last year, horse owners are now free to move their horses anywhere within the state with a THS.