Health · 2026-10-31 · Afternoon briefing
African Horse Sickness confirmed in South Africa's Western Cape
South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of African horse sickness (AHS) in a single horse in the Cederberg region of the Western Cape. The case, identified as virus serotype 7 by the University of Pretoria's Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, occurred within the country's established AHS Protection Zone. In response, authorities have established a containment area and implemented strict movement controls.
Veterinary services have commenced intensive surveillance and tracing to determine the extent of the outbreak. No permits will be issued for moving horses out of the affected area while the investigation is ongoing. The department will also notify international trade partners, signalling potential disruption to the country's equine industry.
Counter-intuitively, officials are strongly discouraging horse owners from vaccinating their animals. The currently registered vaccine is live-attenuated; authorities fear that its use during a period of high vector activity could allow midges to spread the vaccine strain itself, potentially worsening the outbreak.
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- SA confirms African Horse Sickness case in Western Cape
- African Horse Sickness Confirmed in Western Cape's Cederberg
- AHS Case Confirmed In Cederberg Local Municipality
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