Question NW2814 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
13 October 2023 - NW2814
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
(1) With reference to her reply to question 1509 on 11 May 2023, what (a) are the reasons for the inability of the surveillance measures in the livestock biosecurity to detect the outbreak of African horse sickness and report the carnage and (b) steps has she and/or her department taken to address the challenges of dying horses faced by horse farmers; (2) whether she intends to compensate those farmers who lost their horses; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW3229E
Reply:
1.(a) Both passive and active surveillance for African Horse Sickness (AHS) are
implemented within the AHS controlled area. Our passive surveillance has been shown to be excellent for the rapid detection of AHS outbreaks within the AHS controlled area while our active surveillance provides assurance that no outbreaks circulate undetected in these areas. In the AHS infected zone, only passive surveillance is implemented as active serological surveillance using unvaccinated sentinel animals would be impractical and even detrimental to the welfare of such horses in this zone.
b) The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development periodically sends out media alerts which encourages all horse owners to protect their animals from AHS by shielding horses from midges by stabling them two hours before sunset to at least two hours after sunrise; using registered insecticides and repellents to repel and kill midges; keep horses away from areas where midges breed such as damp and wet areas as well as refrain from moving infected horses to other properties or uninfected horses to properties where there are cases of AHS.
Reporting challenges regarding AHS outbreak in the Eastern Cape Province earlier in 2023 have been addressed with the relevant officials. The officials have indicated education and awareness was to be undertaken with farmers and reporting would be improved.
The map below shows the AHS controlled area consisting of the free, surveillance and protection zones vs the AHS infected zone.
(2) No. Compensation in terms of section 19 of the Animal Diseases Act,1984 (Act No. 35 of 1984) is only applicable for animals which have been destroyed under supervision of Veterinary Services pursuant to a control measure. Table 2 of the Animal Diseases Regulations R2026 of 1986 states that AHS infected horses shall be isolated for a certain period and destruction of infected horses is not prescribed. The horses mentioned in the question died and were not destroyed pursuant to any control measure or order. Section 19 of the Animal Diseases Act, 1984 is therefore not applicable to these animals.