May 2008

African Horse Sickness Plague

Spread by biting flies and ticks, this disease is killing horses in South Africa.

South Africa is experiencing an outbreak of African horse sickness, a viral disease that attacks the heart, lungs or both and is fatal to 75 to 90% of horses infected, 50% of mules and about 10% of donkeys. As of the end of March, nearly 270 equine cases had been recorded and 155 deaths.

Be aware that traveling to shows could expose your horse and/or transmit diseases back to your barn.

African horse sickness or "horse plague," has been recognized in horses in southern Africa since at least the 1700s. Periodic spread has been documented as far north as Portugal. …