The Department of Agriculture wishes to inform equine owners and other stakeholders that a case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) has been confirmed in a single animal on a property in the Cederberg Local Municipality.
The property is located within South Africa's established African Horse Sickness Protection Zone. Laboratory tests conducted at the University of Pretoria's Veterinary Genetics Laboratory confirmed the presence of African Horse Sickness virus serotype 7.
“The swift detection of this case in the Cederberg Local Municipality was detected through South Africa’s established surveillance systems, which is a good example of how the veterinary surveillance system in South Africa works,” said Mr Willie Aucamp, Minister of Agriculture.
“As a result of such systems, the authorities were able to quickly move to the affected area and take the required stringent actions as stipulated in the Animal Diseases Act and deploy containment protocols.”
According to Minister Aucamp, all equine owners in the controlled area are urged to work closely with Veterinary Services, as they will be undertaking intensive tracking, surveillance and counting activities in the area.
In accordance with the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984), and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture's contingency plan for AHS, an outbreak containment area has been established, and movement controls have been implemented. Ordinarily, movements in the controlled area must be accompanied by a permit issued by State Vet: Boland.
The Department has advised that no permits will be issued to move horses from the affected area. These measures are designed to limit the movement of potentially exposed equids while investigations and surveillance activities continue. Furthermore, Veterinary Services, together with authorised veterinarians and industry partners, have commenced intensive surveillance, tracing, and census activities in and around the affected area.
These activities will assist in determining the extent of the outbreak and identifying any additional cases as early as possible. In the meantime, horse owners and managers are encouraged to remain vigilant and to immediately report any equids displaying signs consistent with AHS, including unexplained fever, swelling of the head or neck, breathing difficulties, or unexpected death.
Horse owners are also encouraged to continue implementing measures to reduce exposure to the Culicoides midges that transmit AHS. These measures include stabling horses from two hours before sunset until two hours after sunrise where possible, avoiding low-lying wet areas, and making appropriate use of registered insect repellents and insecticides.
It is important to note that vaccination against AHS this time of year is strongly discouraged – the current registered vaccine is a live-attenuated vaccine, and its use in the presence of vectors is going to result in the vaccine strain being spread further by vectors, exacerbating the situation1.
“While there is no proof of large-scale disease activity outside the said property, the department is focused on total vigilance and calls on all horse owners to refrain from AHS vaccination during this period. Veterinary Services will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as additional information becomes available,” Minister Aucamp said.
International trade partners will be notified of the outbreak and further information on international trade will be provided by the Department of Agriculture in due course. Details regarding containment measures, movement restrictions and permit will be announced and updated from time to time by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and may also be obtained from Veterinary Services and at www.myhorse.org.za.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Joylene van Wyk
Director: Media Liaison Ministry Cell: 083 292 7399
Email: Joylenev@nda.gov.za or Medialiaison@agric.gov.za
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