WC Department of Agriculture
In response to the current shortage of AHS vaccines, Boland State Vet Dr Gary Buhrmann has issued a number of temporary amendments to the AHS Movement Control Protocol.
- With reference to vaccination of horses prior to movement of horses into the AHS Controlled Area defined in section 3.1 of the protocol, horses moving into the AHS Controlled Area from the AHS infected zone must have been vaccinated within 24 months, but not less than 40 days, prior to movement (The current 60 days has been reduced to 40 days).
- With reference to vaccination of horses prior to movement within the Controlled Area (from protection zone to surveillance zone into free zone) all requirements relating to vaccination are temporarily suspended. Therefore horses may move without vaccination or within 60 days of vaccination from protection zone to surveillance zone, or surveillance zone to free zone.
With regards to movement of horses during the AHS season of 2015:
- All direct movements from the AHS infected zone into the AHS Controlled Zone will be suspended from 1 February 2015 until 30 June 2015. During this period ALL MOVEMENTS into the Controlled Area must be done according to the Stop Over Quarantine Protocol at an approved facility. For further information regarding this protocol contact Dr Gary Buhrmann of State Vet Boland or Mrs Danielle Pienaar of the Equine Health Fund.
- The Stop Over Quarantine will include a mandatory PCR test on whole blood, by a DAFF approved laboratory on day 14 of quarantine.
- Normal (i.e. direct) movements based on state veterinary permits and AHS outbreaks will apply until 1 February 2015, and will resume after the 30 June 2015, at the discretion of the State Vet Boland.
Any derogation from this rule will only be granted with the permission of the director of Animal Health.
Health certificates and state vet permits
All movements from the AHS infected zone into the AHS Controlled Zone need a permit from the state vet at origin in addition to the health certificate. The state vet at origin will only issue a permit if there are no confirmed outbreaks of AHS within a radius of 30 km for 40 days (Changed from 30 days).
These amendments will remain in force until such time as vaccine is again freely available and this notice is retracted:
