AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS (AHS) update – Porterville region of the Western Cape Province: Two horses have tested positive for African Horse sickness (serotype 1) on a holding situated between Saron and Porterville, south east of the R44. The affected holding falls within the AHS Protection Zone. As a precautionary measure veterinary control measures have been communicated including the establishment of CONTAINMENT ZONE are have been declared in terms of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act 35 of 1984) and allied legislation. The containment zone borders are illustrated in the map below. No equids (horses, donkeys or zebras) may be moved into, out of, within or through this containment zone until further notice. All horses within this area must be stabled as for as possible from 2 hours before sunset until 2 hours after sunrise. In addition they must be treated with effective insect repellants to prevent midges (‘muggies’) feeding on them. This will decrease the risk of spread of the disease. All occurrences of horses becoming sick or dying must immediately be reported to the closest State Veterinarian (see contact details below) in order for Veterinary Services to investigate the possible cause of such disease or death. Signs to look out for that might be AHS include: fever, inappetance, ataxia (difficulty in moving), swollen area above eyes (supraorbital fossa), acute death. Veterinary officials will be conducting a detailed census starting at the first affected property and moving out from that farm to the rest of the containment zone. The purpose of this is to establish the population at risk for disease and to do clinical surveillance for the disease to see whether the disease has spread. We would appreciate the public’s co-operation during this census. Movements of equids via the N7 on the boundary of the containment area may take place but such movements should take place only during daylight hours, travelling straight through the area in a Northerly or Southerly direction without any stopping or deviation. The cases have occurred in a region that is likely to be highly protected through yearly AHS vaccination and for the time being vaccination will not be performed as a control measure in the containment zone. Contacts: State Veterinarian Malmesbury (Dr S. Davey) - 022 482 1380; sewellynd@elsenburg; State Veterinarian Boland (Stellenbosch – Dr. G Buhrmann) 021 808 5253; garyb@elsenburg; Dr John Grewar, State Veterinarian, Epidemiology: 021 808 5056; johng@elsenburg - Veterinary Services Animal Health Western Cape Government
Posted on: Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:16:34 +0000