Krysztyna
Well-Known Member
I live in Cape Town, South Africa. My area is not affected by AHS but we are still careful to keep up to date with what is happening up country. I've been working in Europe for the past year and there seems to be a lot of panic about AHS. I have also heard some odd 'facts' about the disease. AHS is a devastating disease and shouldn't be taken lightly but panic and misinformation can also do harm. Here are some facts from South Africa.
AHS is not spread from horse to horse but via midges: Culicoides imicola and Culicoides bolitinos. These midges occur mainly in the warm, rainy season and die when frost appears. In Cape Town the weather is usually warm and dry OR cold and wet- we don't have a warm, rainy season and are not usually affected by AHS.
There are three forms of AHS; lung, heart and mixed. The 90% death rate is associated with the lung form, where death occurs quickly. The heart form has a 50% death rate and death can occur up to eight days after the fever starts.
There is a vaccine available which covers seven of the nine serotypes of AHS. It is estimated that 50% of South Africa's horse population is vaccinated. Only one percent of vaccinated horses are thought to have become ill with AHS.
In 2005/2006 the outbreak lasted 7 months. 850 cases were identified, 17% were fatal.
In 2006/2007 the outbreak lasted 8 months. 163 cases were confirmed, 54% were fatal.
In 2007/2008 there was an 8 month outbreak. 707 cases were approved, again 54% were fatal.
The most recent outbreak lasted 9 months, 236 horses were confirmed to have AHS and 59% died. There were only 3 cases of AHS reported outside of South Africa.
More information is available at www.africanhorsesickness.co.za
Hope this is useful.
AHS is not spread from horse to horse but via midges: Culicoides imicola and Culicoides bolitinos. These midges occur mainly in the warm, rainy season and die when frost appears. In Cape Town the weather is usually warm and dry OR cold and wet- we don't have a warm, rainy season and are not usually affected by AHS.
There are three forms of AHS; lung, heart and mixed. The 90% death rate is associated with the lung form, where death occurs quickly. The heart form has a 50% death rate and death can occur up to eight days after the fever starts.
There is a vaccine available which covers seven of the nine serotypes of AHS. It is estimated that 50% of South Africa's horse population is vaccinated. Only one percent of vaccinated horses are thought to have become ill with AHS.
In 2005/2006 the outbreak lasted 7 months. 850 cases were identified, 17% were fatal.
In 2006/2007 the outbreak lasted 8 months. 163 cases were confirmed, 54% were fatal.
In 2007/2008 there was an 8 month outbreak. 707 cases were approved, again 54% were fatal.
The most recent outbreak lasted 9 months, 236 horses were confirmed to have AHS and 59% died. There were only 3 cases of AHS reported outside of South Africa.
More information is available at www.africanhorsesickness.co.za
Hope this is useful.