MEDIA STATEMENT - 25 November 2021
The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has been made aware by the Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) regarding the shortage and unavailability of the OBP African horse sickness (AHS) vaccine.
The current unavailability of AHS vaccine at this time will have implications with regards to the management of vaccination protocols, and we are aware that it may have been impossible for some horses to be vaccinated as required within the time period prior to 31 October.
The department welcomes the assurance given by OBP that contingency plans are being implemented and closely monitored to ensure that production outputs meet the demand and the assurance to the Equine Industry that all efforts are being made to ensure that the vaccine is available early in December 2021.
Pease take note of the following instructions in this regard:
AHS is a controlled animal disease in terms of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 (Act no 35 of 84). Vaccination against AHS must be performed according to the requirements summarized in the table below:
Please consult the Veterinary Procedural Notice for African horse sickness control (AHS VPN), Important Information Regarding Vaccination against African Horse Sickness (AHS) In South Africa and the Animal Disease Regulations R2026 of 1986 on the DALRRD website for more information.
Please see here the Media Statement recieved from DALRRD :