BANGKOK, April 6 (TNA) — The Department of Livestock Development will quickly acquire a vaccine to cope with the African Horse Sickness (AHS) that has killed 186 horses in the country.
Sorawit Thanito, director-general of the department, said test results from Britain and the department’s National Institute of Animal Health confirmed that the massive sickness and deaths of horses in the country resulted from the AHS virus serotype 1 and he was discussing an immediate import of the vaccine with relevant parties.
The outbreak was controlled quickly and a live attenuated vaccine was a solution. It was produced and used in the countries often facing the disease including African countries, Middle East countries, Egypt, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Pakistan and India, he said.
Mr Soravit said AHS has killed 186 horses in the country including 162 in Nakhon Ratchasima province, 13 in Prachuap Khiri Khan, five in Chon Buri, three in Ratchaburi, two in Phetchaburi, one in Chaiyaphum.
The outbreak continued in four provinces. The daily number of ill and dead horses dropped from about 20 to 10 and the daily deaths fell from about 20 to 3-5, he said.
He suggested horse owners use sanitization, insect nets and insect repellants to protect their animals. (TNA)
