Zone in the Western Cape province
11 April 2007
Since 16 March 2007, a total of 10 horses have died on properties located
within the African horse sickness (AHS) Surveillance Zone. All these deaths
were investigated by the Veterinary Authorities with post mortem examinations
either conducted on-farm or at the Provincial Veterinary Laboratory. Samples
were taken and submitted to the Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (OVI) for
diagnostic analysis.
Initial test results on the first few cases incriminated AHS virus as the
cause. New diagnostic evidence, based on virus isolation at the OVI, indicate
that there is a distinct probability that other equine disease viruses might
also be involved. This likelihood is currently under intensive investigation by
the Western Cape Veterinary Services, actively supported by local
private-practising equine veterinarians, as well as researchers from OVI and
the University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science.
Horse owners are requested to report any cases of horses exhibiting
suspicious clinical signs (fever reactions in excess of 39 degrees Celsius,
coupled to general malaise and/or difficult breathing, sometimes ending in
peracute deaths) to their veterinarians, so that the necessary investigations
can be done to try and accurately establish the exact cause(s) of these
cases.
Various infectious agents able to cause disease in equines are under
suspicion, including Equine encephalosis virus. African horse sickness virus
has also not been eliminated as the cause of the current disease outbreak,
whether alone or possibly in combination with other infectious organisms. As
outbreaks of AHS directly impact on the export of horses from the AHS Free
Area, the real cause of these cases would have to be established to the
satisfaction of the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) and the veterinary
authorities of our equine trading partner countries.
As the cause(s) of these cases have not been unequivocally confirmed by
laboratory isolation and identification of the causative agent(s), the current
movement ban would have to be maintained, in fact even extended, as detailed
below.
The current ban, issued as a Notice in terms of the Animal Diseases Act,
1984 (Act 35 of 1984, as amended) will come into effect on the issue date of
this Notice and will now include the following restrictions and areas:
1. A total ban on all movements of equines (horses, donkeys, mules and
zebra) within, into, through or out of the whole of the African horse sickness
Surveillance Zone and AHS Free Area (see description of areas below and map at
http://www.capegateway.gov.za).
2. This ban will be in operation until cancelled by a Notice issued similarly
as above.
3. Cancellation or modification of this Notice will only be considered once the
Veterinary Authorities have determined the exact cause and possible effects of
this pathogen and established the necessary disease control strategies.
4. The above movement ban includes movements of equines out of the areas
specified above to the rest of the country. This differs from the previous ban
in that AHS was the only consideration then, but now unknown factors have to be
taken into consideration.
5. Previously, the ban allowed for movement in and between other districts, not
specifically mentioned as high-risk areas, under cover of a State Veterinary
Movement Permit. For the whole of the AHS Surveillance Zone and Free Area this
has now been cancelled as indicated in 1 above.
6. All pertinent authorities (inclusive of the Provincial and Municipal Traffic
Inspectorates and the South African Police Services) will be requested to
police this ban and take appropriate action against transgressors.
7. The need and applicable areas for compulsory vaccination against African
horse sickness will be revised and communicated shortly. Decisions regarding
this aspect of disease control obviously depend on laboratory diagnostic
results.
Full compliance by all involved parties is a prerequisite in our combined
attempts to safeguard our horses, especially as the specific cause of these
deaths has not been satisfactorily established. In the face of such an unknown
challenge to the whole country's horse population, severe limitation of horse
movements is a prerequisite. This, coupled with practices involving excellent
feeding, husbandry and biting insect control, is the only disease prevention
actions that can currently be advised.
As requested previously, all horse owners and organisers of equine shows,
meetings and competitions throughout the country, are urgently requested to
postpone imminent major horse gatherings until more clarity with respect to
this epidemic is obtained. These are major decisions, but can in the long run
only be advantageous to the local as well as national equine industry and
sporting codes.
Description of the African horse sickness Surveillance Zone and the African
horse sickness Free Area
It is the area South of the Berg River (forming the northern border from its
mouth in the Atlantic Ocean at Velddrift to just south of the Voëlvlei Dam in
the east) and to the west of the Hawequa, Du Toits Kloof, Klein Drakenstein,
Franschhoek, and Hottentot-Hollands mountain ranges (forming the eastern border
and stretching from the north opposite Voëlvlei Dam to its most southerly point
of Cape Hangklip).
This area contains the magisterial districts of:
* Moorreesburg
* Vredenburg
* Hopefield
* Malmesbury
* Wellington
* Paarl
* Stellenbosch
* Bellville
* Kraaifontein
* Cape (Milnerton)
* Somerset West
* Strand
* Kuils River
* Mitchell's Plain
* Goodwood
* Wynberg
* Simon's Town inclusive of the whole Cape Town Metropole
Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Tel: (021) 483 4930
Fax: (021) 483 3890
Cell: 084 604 6701
E-mail: avjaarsv@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial
Government
11 April 2007
