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AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS
African horse sickness
(AHS) is a highly infectious non-contagious, vector born viral disease affecting
all species of Equidae. It is classified as an Orbivirus of the Reoviridae
family of which there are 9 serotypes. All serotypes (1-9) are distributed
throughout South Africa, although there is a variation in their temporal distribution.
It is endemic to (occurs naturally on) the African continent, and is characterised
by respiratory and circulatory damage, accompanied by fever and loss of appetite.
AHS does not spread directly from one horse to another, but is transmitted
by the Culicoides midge, which becomes infected when feeding on other infected
equidae. It occurs mostly in the warm, rainy season when midges are plentiful,
and disappears after frost, when the midges die. Most animals become infected
in the period associated with sunset and sunrise, when the midges are most
active.
Letter
ELA to European Commission and Counsil regarding AHS-measures
Emerging Equine Diseases Newmarket conference notes by Anne
Lamborn
African
Horse Sickness Trust website
News
on Warmwell