In a media release published on Thursday afternoon, the National Horseracing Authority confirm that a positive case of African Horse Sickness (AHS) has been confirmed, after Laboratory analysis, at the Summerveld Training Centre this afternoon.
Trainers are advised to exercise strict midge vector control during this period.
It is recommended that horses be stabled indoors from two hours before sunset until two hours after dawn where practical, to decrease the risk of vector contact.
Trainers should ensure horses returning from races in the late afternoon be stabled as soon as possible. Stable doors and window openings should remain closed at night.
Additionally, Trainers should apply insecticides (e.g. cypermethrin) and insect repellents (e.g. DEET) effective against midges, to their horses in the afternoon (and early morning if outside around dawn).
Horses should be monitored for fever twice daily and any horse showing an increased temperature of above 38.5°C, especially on the morning of a race meeting, should be scratched as a precaution.
Vaccination of horses during this time is not recommended.
The NHA and SAEHP do not feel it is necessary at this stage to implement any further movement restrictions on horses raiding KwaZulu-Natal than what is already in place by the State Veterinarian.
The Racing schedule is not affected at this stage, however, this situation may change and is largely dependent on all role players strictly adhering to the professional guidance as provided above.
