Ethiopia has the largest equine population in Africa, with a total of nearly 9 million equids. They are relied upon heavily by the Ethiopian population for transport of food, water, produce or people - helping families to generate income, as well as making it possible for them to carry out household tasks.

 

The performance of horses, donkeys and mules dips dramatically when they fall ill, and their owners consequently struggle to continue with daily life. A number of diseases affect equids, the worst of which is AHS.

 

Multiple annual outbreaks of this disease are regularly reported and recent studies reveal the existence of new circulating strains of the AHS virus. A report published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in 2008 showed that a total of 15 outbreaks in south west Ethiopia led to 2185 equine deaths.

 

That same year, the country vaccinated 306,454 horses to limit the progress of outbreaks.

 

More recent studies conducted between 2009 and 2010 reported 10 outbreaks in central, eastern and western parts of the country, and studies in 2012 revealed that the dominant variation of the AHS virus (AHSV-9) is still the most prevalent.

 

Dr Andy Stringer, director of veterinary programmes at SPANA, said: 

 

"There are many reasons why horses are still not being vaccinated against AHS. Vaccination programmes are poorly planned, with poor organisational structures and logistical issues. There is also a lack of sufficient information about the disease. Amongst owners there is a lack of awareness about the benefits of vaccination, in addition to the problems surrounding the availability and accessibility of vaccines.”

 

The 7th International Colloquium on Working Equids, hosted by World Horse Welfare, will be held at the Royal Holloway, University of London on July 1-3.