INTRODUCTION 

African Horse Sickness (AHS) is a controlled disease in terms of the Animal Diseases Act (Act no 35 of 84) South Africa. Since 1997, various guidelines and protocol documents have been used to manage AHS in South Africa and more specifically in the AHS controlled area. These documents for AHS control have been revised into a single, updated document. This consolidated document is known as the “Veterinary Procedural Notice: AHS Control”. The disease control measures in this Veterinary Procedural Notice (VPN) have been developed to address local conditions and are in line with principles contained in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code as well as current European Union legislation. Yearly vaccination with a registered vaccine is a legal requirement for all horses in the AHS infected and protection zones of the country. 

VACCINATION GUIDELINES 

As per Rule 39.1, all horses and all foals shall be vaccinated against AHS by a veterinarian, using a registered, non-expired vaccine according to the manufacturers’ recommendations. Such vaccine shall be supplied by the veterinarian administering the vaccine. 

The owner, trainer and/or any other person responsible for the care, treatment or training of a horse shall be individually and jointly responsible for ensuring that such horse is so vaccinated and shall be guilty of an offence if such horse is not vaccinated as prescribed. 

All horses except registered stallions and mares, standing on stud farms, and those resident in the AHS free or surveillance zones, shall receive; 

• two sets of vaccines as foals between the ages of 6 and 18 months, not less than 30 days apart and where possible, between 1 June and 31 October, and thereafter 

• one set every calendar year between 1 June and 31 October in order to compete

All registered stallions and mares, standing on stud farms, except those resident in the AHS free or surveillance zones,  shall be vaccinated against AHS at least once every calendar year and where possible, between 1 June and 31 October. 

During times of vaccination shortage, the NHA may extend this deadline for horses resident in the AHS infected zone only. Should vaccination occur outside this period, it is recommended to implement additional vector protection from Culicoides midges to reduce the risk of uptake and transmission of AHS vaccine virus. 

It is recommended that during a time when supply of AHS vaccines may be an issue, the administration should be done in a prioritized manner to ensure that optimal disease control is achieved. Below is the order in which vaccination administration should be prioritized by veterinarians during a time of supply crisis: 

1. Horses that are under the age of 3 years old, or with less than 3 sets of vaccinations previously should be vaccinated as priority as they would be at highest risk of infection and disease. This is especially important for horses within the controlled area that are likely to travel as vaccination for these horses can only occur between 1 June and 31 October.
2. Horses within the AHS controlled area that are likely to travel out of the AHS controlled area and have not been vaccinated within the last 24 months should be prioritized.
3. Horses in South Africa with less than 6 sets of vaccinations in their life and/or horses that are competing or moving regularly therefore increasing the risk of AHS spread. 

Horses resident in the AHS controlled area (AHS protection, surveillance and free zones) as described in the Animal Diseases Act (Act 35 of 1984) and Regulations, may legally only be vaccinated between 1 June and 31 October. No horse resident in the AHS free or surveillance zones, shall be vaccinated against AHS unless written permission of the Director of Animal Health of the Republic of South Africa has been obtained. 

AHS MOVEMENT CONTROL 

Any horse, except registered stallions and mares, standing on stud farms, moving from the AHS free or surveillance zones, to the rest of the country between 1 November and 31 May, which has not been vaccinated between 1 June and 31 October, shall be vaccinated within a week of arrival. 

No horse or foal shall enter the AHS controlled area unless it has been vaccinated against AHS by a veterinarian, using a registered, non-expired vaccine according to the manufacturers recommendations within 24 months of such entry. No horse or foal shall enter the AHS controlled area if it has received an AHS vaccination within 40 days of such entry. 

No person shall move or transport a horse or a foal into or between zones of the AHS controlled area without a veterinary movement permit or permission from the responsible state veterinarian. 

The movement of horses across South Africa is subject to the regulations of the Department of Agriculture and is constantly changing based on the current situation. For more information regarding the requirements to move horses, boundaries of the zones, entry/exit points between the zones, and a map of the zones please visit www.myhorse.org.za or contact SV: Boland (svboland@elsenburg.com). 

Amended 18/09/2024