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Department of Agriculture

African Horse Sickness

Service ID:
10040
Topics:
Farming and Agriculture
Tags:
Agriculture Animals Health Service
Equine studies

The African Horse Sickness vaccination season runs from June to October each year. 

African Horse Sickness (AHS) is a highly infectious and deadly disease of Equidae. It affects horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras. The disease is caused by the African Horse Sickness virus, part of the Orbivirus genus in the Reoviridae family. AHS is not directly contagious but is spread by the Culicoides midge.

AHS is endemic to South Africa. This means it commonly occurs throughout the country. The Western Cape is the only AHS-free zone in the country. Therefore, Cape Town is the only place that horse exports can take place from. As a result of this AHS control is strictly regulated in the province.

Biting midges spread AHS, and the vaccine used is a live virus vaccine. The cause of previous outbreaks of AHS in the AHS controlled area (AHS CA) has been identified as the spread of the vaccine virus between horses by these Culicoides midges. That's why the vaccination period has been restricted to when midges are least active in the AHS CA.

So, African horse sickness vaccinations are now controlled in the AHS protection, surveillance and free zones of the Western Cape. The vaccination season in the AHS CA in the Western Cape is legislated by the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to take place between 1 June and 31 October each year. Vaccination against AHS for horses in the AHS Surveillance and Free zones may only occur with written permission from State Vet Boland, and this permission can only be granted for vaccinations that are planned within this period.

Applications for permission to vaccinate

 Vaccinations against African Horse Sickness open in March every year so that permission can be granted timeously by State Vet Boland before vaccination can begin annually on 1st June in the African Horse Sickness Controlled areas (Surveillance and Free zones) in the Western Cape.

Only registered AHS vaccines may be used during this time and it is illegal to use an unregistered vaccine or for a private person to vaccinate their horse in the AHS CA. All AHS vaccinations in the AHS CA must be done by a veterinarian. Permission must be applied for by your private veterinarian who will send an application to vaccinate@myhorse.org.za  

Responsible vaccination against AHS decreases the risk of outbreaks in our region, which is to the benefit of our local horse population and increases international market access for South African horses. The public’s adherence to these requirements assists us to ensure there are no further outbreaks, either from the use of vaccines outside the permitted times or from the illegal movement of an infected horse into the area.

For more information visit the Stopover quarantine Protocol

Please take note of the following contact details where relevant

For applications to move equids into and within the AHS-controlled area and enquiries related to equid movement, please contact move@myhorse.org.za 

For applications to vaccinate equines against AHS in the AHS controlled area and enquiries related to vaccination in the AHS controlled area please contact vaccinate@myhorse.org.za

For information about the identification of horses, please contact passport@myhorse.org.za

For Pre-notification of movement please contact prenote@myhorse.org.za

For AHS case reporting or information on sample collection for AHS confirmation and testing please contact your local state veterinarian and/or results@myhorse.org.za

For queries regarding the registration of properties in terms of the Animal Diseases Act 1984 (Act no 35 of 1984) for the keeping of zebra or for movement of zebra within and into the AHS controlled area please contact zebra@myhorse.org.za  

To report a transgression within the AHS controlled area relating to illegal movement, vaccination or any other equid-related law enforcement matter within or relating to the AHS controlled area please contact regulate@myhorse.org.za

For all other enquiries please contact your local state veterinarian. 

The Department would like to thank all horse owners, veterinarians and everyone else involved in the equine industry for partnering with us to get direct exports to the EU reinstated.