Thailand begins mass vaccination of horses to curb African Horse Sickness spread

Veterinarian Aree Laikul from Kasetsart University's faculty of Veterinary Medicine, vaccinates a horse amid an outbreak of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the country, at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Thailand began vaccinating some 4,000 horses on Monday in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS), a disease that only affects horses and other equine animals.

More than 200 horses in seven provinces have died since the outbreak was first reported earlier this year, the first time the highly infectious AHS virus, transmitted by insects, has appeared in Southeast Asia.

A horse is seen in an stable amid an outbreak of the African Horse Sickness (AHS), at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Horse owners in northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province have installed mosquito nets on stables and conduct regular temperature and health checks, while putting sick horses under quarantine.

The government has also banned the import and export of horses, zebras and related animals.

Veterinarians say if the disease cannot be contained by the mass vaccination, it could wipe out all 11,800 horses in Thailand, where they are kept mostly for racing and leisure riding for tourists and private owners.

A hostler baths a horse as they wait for vaccination from a veterinarian, amid an outbreak of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the country, at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

"Without any prevention, 10 out of 10 horses will contract the virus... nine out of 10 sick horses will die from it," Aree Laikul a veterinarian from Kasetsart University's faculty of Veterinary Medicine who is helping the vaccination drive.

There have been no reported cases of AHS in humans, and it is not related to the coronavirus pandemic.

AHS is endemic in the central tropical regions of Africa, from where it spreads regularly to Southern Africa and occasionally to North Africa, according to information from the World Organization for Animal Health.

Veterinarian Aree Laikul from Kasetsart University's faculty of Veterinary Medicine, vaccinates a horse amid an outbreak of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the country, at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

(Editing by Kay Johnson & Simon Cameron-Moore)

Horse vaccines are seen before being injected amid an outbreak of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the country, at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

A veterinarian vaccinates a horse, amid an outbreak of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the country, at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Veterinarians stand as they vaccinate horses, amid an outbreak of the deadly African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the country, at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Veterinarians vaccinate horses, amid an outbreak of the African Horse Sickness (AHS) in the country, which is not transmitted to humans, at Farm Mor Por stable in Khao Yai National Park, parallel to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand April 20, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva