Cape Minister of Agriculture
23 May 2006
Almost six weeks ago the fact that cases of African horse sickness (AHS)
were detected in the Worcester and Robertson districts of the Western Cape was
made public. To ensure that the public is kept informed about the status of
this disease outbreak the present situation is outlined below.
The disease has been diagnosed on six properties in the Breede River valley
on the border between the Worcester and Robertson districts. The diagnosis has
been confirmed through virus isolation and identification procedures performed
on samples taken from horses that died. The test result from a seventh property
is still awaited. In total eighteen horses showed clinical signs of the disease
and of these eight have died and two were put down.
Veterinary Services of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture is however
confident that the disease outbreak has been effectively contained. This
assessment is based on the following:
* The disease has not spread beyond a radius of about fifteen kilometres from
the property where the first case was found and has remained within the Breede
valley, where conditions are more suitable for the midges transmitting the
disease.
* During the last two weeks the number of new cases has been less than the new
cases detected during the two previous weeks.
* Weather conditions are changing rapidly. The onset of colder temperatures
dramatically reduces midge population numbers, thus decreasing transmission of
the disease-causing virus.
It however remains very important that the control measures, introduced at
the start of the outbreak, must remain in place.
The following control measures regarding the movement of horses, mules,
donkeys and zebras are still applicable:
* The arrangement for horses to "stand over" in the AHS control zone before
entering the surveillance or free zones is still suspended. The widespread
occurrence of the disease in other parts of the country does not allow for any
relaxing of this restriction.
* The following restrictions on the movement of horses, donkeys, mules and
zebras, within or through the Worcester and Robertson districts, also remain in
place:
* The movement of such animals between individual properties within the
magisterial districts of Worcester and Robertson of the Western Cape province
may not take place.
* Horses from outside the surveillance zone may only move into the
surveillance and free zones if they meet all the requirements specified in the
protocol that has been in effect since 1997. Because the disease has become
widespread in the rest of the country, few if any, horses are expected to meet
these requirements at present.
Their movement through the Worcester district will be on the following
conditions:
* Movement permits must be obtained from the State Veterinarian in the area
from where the animals are moving before horses are transported. The necessary
notification of the movement must be done prior to departure.
* Vehicles transporting horses may only travel on the N1 highway through the
Worcester district and may not turn off the N1 within Worcester magisterial
district. The Worcester district stretches from Konstabel railway station
(about halfway between Touwsrivier and Matjiesfontein) in the north up to the
Rawsonville turnoff at the entrance to Du Toitskloof pass in the South. Along
these route vehicles transporting horses may not stop for any protracted period
of time and no horses may be up- or offloaded along this stretch of road.
* The transport of such animals along the N1 in the Worcester magisterial
district may only take place during daylight between the hours of 08h00 and
17h00.
* Horseboxes or trailers must be sprayed with insecticides and insect
repellents before animals are loaded for transit through the Worcester
magisterial district.
Owners of horses are again reminded of the measures that can be taken to
prevent their animals from contracting the disease:
* Vaccinate all horses according to the directions for AHS vaccine. It may be
prudent to vaccinate younger foals, even if they have to be revaccinated within
another few months.
* Where possible horses should be stabled from late afternoon to
mid-morning.
* Keep horses out of low lying or marshy camps from late afternoon to
mid-morning
* Apply insect repellents and insecticides suitable for horses, particularly
where animals cannot be stabled
On behalf of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture I want to express
appreciation for the co-operation of all parties concerned in assisting with
implementing effective control measures.
Enquiries:
Alie Van Jaarsveld
Cell: 084 604 6701
Dr J P Kitching
Cell: 082 658 7775
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial
Government
23 May 2006
