the Western Cape province
23 March 2007
A laboratory-confirmed case of African horse sickness (AHS) has been
detected in the AHS Surveillance Zone, near Simondium between Paarl and
Franschhoek in the Western Cape province of South Africa. This is the first
case of this feared viral disease detected in the AHS Surveillance Zone since
the outbreak north of Stellenbosch early in 2004.
On the infected property, an Arabian horse stud farm, a regularly-vaccinated
four-year old mare died on 16 March 2007, exhibiting signs of recumbency,
laboured breathing and death within hours of the onset of clinical signs.
Blood, spleen and lung samples were submitted to the Onderstepoort Veterinary
Institute for confirmation of the diagnosis. On 22 March 2007 the OVI confirmed
the diagnosis of African horse sickness.
Control measures will be instituted under the authority and in terms of the
Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act 35 of 1984, as amended) and accompanying Animal
Disease Regulations. These measures will be finalised during a meeting this
afternoon (Friday, 23 March 2007 at 15:00) between Veterinary Services
officials of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and local specialist
equine veterinarians, as well as specialists from the Equine Research Centre of
the Onderstepoort Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria.
The detail of these control measures will be specified in a follow-up press
release later today or tomorrow, but will include at least the following:
* A total ban on all movements of horses, donkeys, mules and zebras (equines)
into, through or out of the magisterial districts of Paarl and Stellenbosch.
The N1 is exempted from these restrictions during daylight hours (09h00 to
17h00) only for through movement, with no stopping, loading or unloading of
equines allowed.
* All movement of equines in the rest of the AHS Surveillance Zone and Free
Area are also prohibited, except under cover of a movement permit issued by a
State Veterinarian.
* Compulsory vaccination for owners' own account of horses immunised more than
a year ago with AHS vaccine in the high risk and infected areas in Simondium,
Franschhoek and Southern Paarl. These vaccinations must be performed by
veterinarians and reported to Veterinary Services. The area referred to above
might expand, depending on the effectiveness of disease containment measures
and spread of midge vectors.
* All infected properties and properties where suspect cases of AHS are
detected, will be under quarantine for the movement of equines.
* All cases of probable infectious disease or deaths of equines in the AHS Free
Area and Surveillance Zone must be reported to a State Veterinarian to be
investigated.
These control measures will take effect upon release of this notice and will
remain in effect until modified or repealed by a notice to that effect issued
by Veterinary Services of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture according
to the authorisations and requirements as stipulated above.
Horses to be exported that were quarantined in the Kenilworth Pre-export
Quarantine Station have been released from quarantine by the authorities and
returned to their farms of origin. Exports of horses from the export zone in
metropolitan Cape Town will be voluntarily suspended until such time as more
information regarding the outbreak have become available and official
communications between South African veterinary officials and the World Animal
Health Organisation and our trading partners have taken place.
All owners of equines and organisers of equine shows, meets and competitions
are urgently requested to strictly abide by the control measures issued by
Veterinary Services in an effort to contain the spread of this killer disease.
Traffic and police authorities will also be requested to assist in the
enforcement of these legal directives.
More information on African horse sickness can be obtained from the website
of the national Department of Agriculture (http://www.nda.agric.za/docs/Horse/horse.htm).
Enquiries:
Alie van Jaarsveld
Cell: 084 604 6701
Dr Pieter Koen
Deputy Director: Animal Health
Tel: (021) 808 5052
Fax: (021) 808 5126
Cell: 082 907 2808
E-mail: pieterk@elsenburg.com
State Veterinarian Boland
(Drs Ronald Sinclair or Gary Bührmann)
Tel: (021) 808 5253
Fax: (021) 808 5125
Jan Bosman
Head of Office
Ministry of Agriculture
Western Cape Provincial Government
Tel: (021) 483 4700
Fax: (021) 483 3890
E-mail: jbosman@pgwc.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Western Cape Provincial
Government
23 March 2007
