CONFIRMED CASE OF AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS AT THE VAAL

CONFIRMED CASE OF AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS AT THE VAAL

To all Trainers and relevant stakeholders

A positive case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) has been confirmed, after Laboratory analysis, in the Vaal Training Centre. Trainers are advised to exercise strict midge vector control during this period.

Please refer to the previous AHS press release (attached) regarding the various precautions which should be taken in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

The movement of horses within the Infected Zone as well as the Racing schedule is not affected at this stage, however, this situation may change and is largely dependent on all role players adhering to the professional guidance as provided.



Vee Moodley
Chief Executive

PREVIOUS PRESS RELEASE 06 APRIL

IMPORTANT PRESS RELEASE


CONFIRMED CASE OF AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS AT SUMMERVELD


To all Trainers and relevant stakeholders

A positive case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) has been confirmed, after Laboratory analysis, at the Summerveld Training Centre this afternoon.

Trainers are advised to exercise strict midge vector control during this period. It is recommended that horses be stabled indoors from two hours before sunset until two hours after dawn where practical, to decrease the risk of vector contact. Trainers should ensure horses returning from races in the late afternoon be stabled as soon as possible. Stable doors and window openings should remain closed at night.

Additionally, Trainers should apply insecticides (e.g. cypermethrin) and insect repellents (e.g. DEET) effective against midges, to their horses in the afternoon (and early morning if outside around dawn). Horses should be monitored for fever twice daily and any horse showing an increased temperature of above 38.5C, especially on the morning of a race meeting, should be scratched as a precaution.

Vaccination of horses during this time is not recommended.

The NHA and SAEHP do not feel it is necessary at this stage to implement any further movement restrictions on horses raiding KwaZulu-Natal than what is already in place by the State Veterinarian. The Racing schedule is not affected at this stage, however, this situation may change and is largely dependent on all role players strictly adhering to the professional guidance as provided above.




Vee Moodley
Chief Executive

Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
What (a) total number of deaths of horses has been reported as a result of the African Horse Sickness since 31 December 2022 and (b) were the main causes of death of the specified horses?

Reply:
a) The table below records the reported African Horse Sickness outbreaks: summary report from December 2022 to April 2023.

b) The main cause the death of the reported horses that died from African Horse sickness is the disease itself.

AHS update KZN: the suspect case in Camperdown and another nearer Pietermaritzburg have been confirmed positive for AHS. eThekwini and uMgungundlovu will remain closed for direct movement in to the AHS controlled area. Movement from the rest of KZN may also require quarantine for movement in to the controlled area, but will be assessed on a case by case basis at this time.