Thailand begins mass vaccination of horses to curb African Horse Sickness spread

By Panu Wongcha-um, Panarat Thepgumpanat

 

Veterinarian Aree Laikul from Kasetsart University's faculty of Veterinary Medicine, vaccinates a horse amid an outbreak of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the country, at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

Nakhon Ratchasima (Reuters) - Thailand began vaccinating some 4,000 horses on Monday in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS), a disease that only affects horses and other equine animals.

 

More than 200 horses in seven provinces have died since the outbreak was first reported earlier this year, the first time the highly infectious AHS virus, transmitted by insects, has appeared in Southeast Asia.

 

Horse owners in northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province have installed mosquito nets on stables and conduct regular temperature and health checks, while putting sick horses under quarantine.

 

The government has also banned the import and export of horses, zebras and related animals.

 

Veterinarians say if the disease cannot be contained by the mass vaccination, it could wipe out all 11,800 horses in Thailand, where they are kept mostly for racing and leisure riding for tourists and private owners.

 

“Without any prevention, 10 out of 10 horses will contract the virus... nine out of 10 sick horses will die from it,” Aree Laikul a veterinarian from Kasetsart University’s faculty of Veterinary Medicine who is helping the vaccination drive.

 

There have been no reported cases of AHS in humans, and it is not related to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

AHS is endemic in the central tropical regions of Africa, from where it spreads regularly to Southern Africa and occasionally to North Africa, according to information from the World Organization for Animal Health.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-20

 

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Almost too late from recent news....many are already dead and have gone to Pattaya Zoo!

2 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Almost too late from recent news....many are already dead and have gone to Pattaya Zoo!

No way, the carcasses need to be buried on the spot and can't be moved. 

3 hours ago, TheDutchEngineer said:

No way, the carcasses need to be buried on the spot and can't be moved. 

Did Anyone tell the people? who's checking this ?  Would be better to Cremate Them. Don't think Bury a  Horse is 100 % Safe. 

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

There have been no reported cases of AHS in humans, and it is not related to the coronavirus pandemic.

They better check that to make 100 % sure .

50 minutes ago, digger70 said:

Did Anyone tell the people? who's checking this ?  Would be better to Cremate Them. Don't think Bury a  Horse is 100 % Safe. 

Not safe to bury dead things?  Aside from burying people:

 

6 million cows were killed in the UK because of mad cow disease, they were all buried.

Millions of pigs were killed in Asia because of African swine fever, they were buried.

Then there was bird flu and millions of chickens & ducks.

 

I think it's safe.

 

 

 

 

On 4/20/2020 at 7:09 PM, snoop1130 said:

The government has also banned the import and export of horses, zebras and related animals.

Truly locking the barn door after the horses have gotten out, but you don't have to ban horses, just zebras who are known to be carriers of AHS.  A fact any competent animal control agency would be aware of