Page 6190 - Week 14 - Thursday, 9 December 2010

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(6) What procedures do the DAS use to manage the ongoing risk in or around the facility once the quarantine period has ended and do these procedures include testing new arrivals for parvovirus and quarantining new arrivals until tests are complete.

(7) What specific measures have been taken to decontaminate the walking tracks in the nature reserve adjacent to the DAS shelter.

Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

1. Parvovirus was first detected at the DAS facility on 19 June 2010. Between this date and 31 October 2010, a total of 596 dogs have been impounded at the facility.

2. Of the 596 dogs impounded during this period:

(a) 14 dogs were tested for the parvovirus;

(b) 272 dogs were C3 vaccinated against parvovirus; and

3. The Registrar is responsible for implementing quarantine procedures at DAS. This decision is made in conjunction with advice from the ACT Government Vet.

4. The procedures that are followed by DAS staff during quarantine periods are contained in DAS operating procedures.

5. The ACT Government Vet has determined that a 14 day quarantine period be implemented at the DAS facility following a positive detection of the parvovirus. If no further detection of the virus occurs during this period, the DAS Registrar declares the end of the quarantine period on the 15^th day.

• All dogs entering the facility are C3 vaccinated against parvovirus;

• Dog pens, food bowls etc are cleaned daily;

• Foot baths are maintained at the entrance to the kennels;

• Any owner who attends DAS to surrender an animal, is asked about the dog’s vaccination history;

• DAS vehicles are regularly disinfected;

• Any dog showing signs of illness is monitored and taken to a vet for treatment if required;

• Dogs are tested for the parvovirus when they show initial symptoms, as testing prior to this records a negative result;

• New arrivals are quarantined if there are suspicions that they may have parvovirus, pending the outcome of a test. If this test is positive, a vet is called to confirm the diagnosis and if parvovirus is confirmed, the dog is immediately euthanized.

7. Walking tracks used by volunteers to exercise the dogs are outside the DAS facility on public land. The virus is extremely stable and considered ‘ubiquitous’. No environment is virus free unless it is regularly disinfected. Bleach is the best and most effective disinfectant against viruses; however disinfection is problematic for non-bleachable surfaces such as grass and soil. Even if these areas were bleached daily, as they are open to the public and due to the nature of the surface, there is no guarantee that they would be free from the virus.

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