IMPORTANT PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT TO HORSE OWNERS
From: AHS equi-link
AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS (AHS) Research Assistance & Surveillance Project
Kathy Wiles
REGARDING RECENT NEWS ABOUT A NEW VACCINE FOR AHS
As some of you may have seen - a ' public announcement' has been made by the Facebook
Member's Group ' AHS African horse sickness -The Equine Challenge' - that a "new
alternative vaccine for AHS has become available". This is significant news for all
horse owners, who have been waiting for years for an up-dated and more effective
vaccine, but at the same time has also come as an unexpected 'surprise' to most of
us who have known nothing about the development of this vaccine. Many valid questions
are being asked as to whether this is ' official, legal and safe' - especially since
it has come at the exact time of the year we are supposed to start vaccinating our
horses - so they have time to build up stronger immunity in time for AHS season which
is normally late November to June.
The Admin's of the Equine Challenge Group have asked us to "please be patient for
more news because a public press release will be made available from the Developer
within 2 weeks" (giving all these details and answers to our questions) but we feel
very concerned that some horse owners may delay vaccinating their horses with the
OBP vac in the meantime and in turn put their horses at risk. AHS equi-link would
therefore like to offer our opinion on this current news as we feel it is vital that
the public are given accurate information and know exactly "which vaccine is which".
The information made public at this stage and only released by the AHS Equine Challenge
Group - is that "this new vaccine has been tested and developed by Dr Daan Goosen
and available from 'Disease Control Africa' by arrangement and prescription through
vets", with contact details included and it's being referred to as the 'DCA Vac".
We all have the right to choose how we are going to protect our horses from AHS this
summer and a document explaining this vaccine has been posted by them now on the
Neigh-Bours Website at (http://www.facebook.com/events/494880593858228/). However
we still feel 'in formed decisions' cannot be made without all the relevant facts
to consider.
OUR CURRENT VIEW ON THE INFORMATION MADE PUBLIC SO FAR IS AS FOLLOWS:-
(1) We strongly recommenced that you still vaccinate your horses against AHS with
the current OBP (Onderstepoort Biological Products) vaccine, until further 'official'
news and/or a press release becomes available. The best time to vaccinate is September
to October, allowing time for immunity to build up and 'peak' to co-incide with the
hightest risk period between January through to May. Due to shortages and delay in
supply of the OBP vaccine in certain areas once again, we recommended you speak to
your vet and/or purchase yours without delay. As OBP no longer supply syringes and
needles with the vaccine pack, these have to be purchased separately and need to
be the specific ' short needle' type (as the injection has to be given just under
the skin - not into vein or muscle). Ensure the cold-chain is not broken at any time
before administering, give the first one ASAP and the 2nd one 3 to 4 weeks later.
(2) The 'DCA vac' is not yet registered and although the report indicates "international
registration process" is happening, this means that it will not at this time be
accepted as 'official' for passports, or qualify for entry into the Western Cape
AHS Control Zone. Horse Owners will have to check with different equine bodies -
such as SAEF and FEI - as well as Livery Facilities and Shows, if they would accept
entry of horses which have not been vaccinated with the official OBP one - as the
laws still apply which oblige us to do so.
(3) Although numerous claims are being made that results have been successful and
that "proper clinical trials have been done and the product tested in the field over
the last 3 years for efficacy and safety", we find it disturbing that none of our
top 'AHS Specialists', State Vets and most Equine Vets we've spoken to, have no knowledge
of these trials or vaccine, other than some having "heard or seen the same news". We
therefore feel that until such time as this vital information can be properly verified
in a publication by the Developer, as well as documented in a way that allows us
to examine results and make intelligent decisions - based on all the facts we need
- that these claims still need to be backed up by proper scientific proof, which
would be required for registration anyway.
We are very aware that OBP have done very little - if nothing - to update their current
AHS vaccine, also that nothing has been done about investigating the claims of "vaccine
failure" and that their service and delivery has been appalling over the last few
years. We also agree that there is an urgent need for a new vaccine to adequately
protect our horses and hope the facts we are presenting here are not seen as ' negative
or finding fault' - because we would be thrilled to get official clarification that
this new vaccine is in fact what we've been waiting for!
Due to a few different AHS vaccines being discussed we would also like to make it
clear that OBP are completely independent from the other two 'Onderstepoort Facilities'
who are involved with AHS and research, because so often these different ' role players'
are confused with one another - resulting in unfair criticism usually levelled at
simply "OP" (short for Onderstepoort) which could indicate any of the 3 of them.
Apart from OBP (Private State Owned Company) the other two main ' role players' involved
in AHS vaccines are:-
(A) The Equine Research Centre (ERC) a private Research Centre headed by Professor
Alan Guthrie, situated at the Faculty of Veterinary Science - Onderstepoort - and
mostly funded and 'directed' by Racing SA. They are also in the process of developing
a new vaccine for AHS and have been doing trials for the last 7 years already - one
strain (stereotype) at a time. Initial Scientific publications have been released
on the progress made so far (http://137.215.9.22/bitstream/handle/2263/13909/Guthrie_Protective%282009%29.pdf?sequence=1)
but at this stage we have been given no indication as to how long we may have to
wait for this one to become available and certainly it will not be obtainable until
trials are completed and full registration has taken place. ERC also do testing of
samples for AHS.
(B) Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute - Agricultural Research Council (OVI-ARC)
recently announced that they have finally been allocated some funding from DAFF for
AHS Research which includes the development of ' new AHS vaccine' and are currently
looking for scientists to work on this project. OVI-ARC are the original 'AHS Research
Institute and situated close to both ERC and OBP but again, completely independent,
although both OBP and OVI-ARC are ' state owned'. OVI-ARC work under the directive
and funding of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and still
remain the only 'official Reference Centre' for the OIE in SA - who report on the
status of Controlled Animal Diseases' world wide. They have always been and still
remain the accredited testing laboratory' for samples, although ERC are a 2nd option
to us now and one big benefit of having samples tested at ERC, is that results are
very quick (24 to 48 hrs) and they check for AHS and EEV at the same time, as well
as identify the strain (stereotype) involved - which is critical for research.
AHS equi-link have a public 'Facebook Community Page' as well as a Website to keep
horse owners up to date with all AHS issues, news and Outbreak Alerts. We include
West Nile Virus (WNV) Equine enchephalosis virus (EEV) and other 'new' equine viruses
- some of which are currently being researched by Professor Marietjie Venter who
also does testing of samples for all these viruses and soon to be importing a WNV
vaccine into SA with Pfizer - which is effective against the particular strains identified
here. We also have a 'Research Assistance Member's Group' on Facebook for those who
would like to join in on discussions about research needs and other problems effecting
us, or who may be able to assist with ' data collection' and warning notifications
in their different areas.
Please contact us with any queries you may have and input is welcome. We ask that
you please share our links with your friends to spread the word and in turn all help
each other to stay aware, up to date with what is happening and assist in saving
more horses from AHS!
Thank you and hope your horses stay safe.
Regards,
Kathy Wiles
Website
AHS equi-link | AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS Research Assistance and Surveilance Project
Facebook Community Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/AHS-equi-link-Research-Assistance-and-Surveillance-Project/227140744019503?ref=hl
Facebook Research Assistance Group
AHS equi-link
AHS equi-link e-mail address: info@ahsequilink.co.za
Tel (044) 877 1825
Cell 072 511 6093