BANGKOK – Greater than 100 horses have died from African Horse Illness (AHS) in Thailand, authorities knowledge confirmed, within the Southeast Asian nation’s first occasion of the sickness that solely impacts animals.
“This illness has simply occurred in Thailand. We’ve by no means had it up to now,” director-general of the Division of Livestock Improvement, Sorawit Thanito, stated on Thursday.
The federal government has quarantined sick horses to restrict the unfold of the illness, Sorawit stated.
This illness has simply occurred in Thailand. We’ve by no means had it up to now. We’ve got to analyze how this virus received to Thailand
Sorawit Thanito, Director-general, the Division of Livestock Improvement
A minimum of 131 horses have died throughout 4 provinces, newest authorities knowledge confirmed.
“We’ve got to analyze how this virus received to Thailand,” he stated, including that the federal government was notified in late March of AHS within the nation.
Horses affected by the sickness can have fevers of over 39 Celsius, issue respiration and bleeding within the eyes.
There have been no reported circumstances of AHS in people and it was not associated to the outbreak of the brand new coronavirus, Sorawit stated.
The World Group for Animal Well being (OIE) suspended Thailand’s standing as an “AHS Free Nation” on March 27.
AHS is endemic within the central tropical areas of Africa, from the place it spreads frequently to Southern Africa and sometimes to North Africa, in keeping with the OIE.
Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan had their AHS-free statuses suspended in 2018.
* A steady assistant prepares a horse earlier than a contest in the course of the Thai Polo Open 2019, Thailand’s premier annual equestrian sporting occasion on the Thai Polo and Equestrian Membership in Pattaya on Jan 19, 2019