Quarantine failure likely to blame for Australian equine flu

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2007

SYDNEY (AFP) — A failure of quarantine was most likely to blame for an outbreak of equine influenza which has crippled Australia's racing industry, a government minister said Saturday.

Signalling a possible public inquiry into the epidemic, Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran said quarantine failure was a logical conclusion to make, but it would be some time before investigators could make firm conclusions.

"It was a breach of quarantine in all likelihood. It may have been human error of deficiencies in the standards of quarantine," McGauran said. "Our inquiry is looking at both.

"Whether or not the public interest will be served by having a public inquiry is something we will consider."

Investigations have focused on a government quarantine facility...