African Horse Sickness Affects Porterville Region | Western Cape Government

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African Horse Sickness Affects Porterville Region

13 March 2014
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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 far 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. 
 
Contact Details: 
 
Dr S Davey - Malmesbury
Tel: 022 482 1380
 
 Dr G Buhrman - Boland (Stellenbosch)
Tel: 021 808 5253 
Cell: 083 642 0602 
 
Dr John Grewar - Epidemiology
Tel: 021 808 5056
 
Media Enquiries: 
Wouter Kriel
Tel: 021 483 4700
Cell: 079 694 3085