The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the International Collation Center (ICC), Animal Health Trust, UK, have confirmed on 27th March 2020 that there is an outbreak of African Horse Sickness (AHS) in Nakhon Ratchasima district, Thailand.

The Royal Malaysian Polo Association would like to advise our member clubs to take the following precautionary biosecurity measures to ensure our local population of horses is not affected by AHS.

1. There should be no movement of horses in and out of your respective establishments without approval from the Department of Veterinary Services.
2. For stables in the northern belt (Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu) please maintain a movement log for horses from Thailand for the last 30 days.
3. Any incident of horses showing signs of high fever, nasal discharge, lack of appetite, breathing difficulties or sudden death should be notified to the State Veterinary Department immediately.
4. Any horse showing the above clinical signs should be isolated from other horses that are in the same premises.
5. Sick horses should not be moved from stables without clearance from DVS.
6. As AHS is caused by biting midges (Culicoides), precautions should be taken to ensure stable hygiene is practised and not compromised.
7. Stagnant water becomes breeding grounds for biting midges. Please ensure drains and water catchments are regularly cleaned. Please add anti-larvae medications to ponds and any stagnant water areas. Where possible please install water movement machines or oxygenators for your water reservoirs.
8. The activity of Culicoides is at its peak during early mornings and late afternoons. Please fumigate the stable surroundings twice daily.
9. For stables in higher risk areas in the northern belt, it is strongly recommended that you install insect screening at your stables and use insect repellent sprays at least twice daily.
10. For stables in higher risk areas in the northern belt, it is strongly recommended not to allow horses into paddocks for extended periods of time, and especially not in the early mornings or late evenings.
11. Please apply insect repellents on your horses before going out of the stables at any time.
12. All feed trucks and horse feeds should be fumigated before being allowed into your establishments.

The Department of Veterinary Services is aware of the AHS outbreak in Thailand.  We await further directives from the government on biosecurity measures that might need to be added to this list.  We shall keep you informed of any changes.

RMPA hopes that you will do your best to keep your horses and all the horses in Malaysia safe from this outbreak.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

[Signed]
Y Bhg Dato’ Mohamed Moiz
President
Royal Malaysian Polo Association