African Horse Sickness (AHS) has been detected in the Western Cape of South Africa with confirmation of at least 12 horses being fatally stricken by the disease. Due to the outbreak, a ban has been placed on all horse exports from the area.

The outbreak occurred in Jonkershoek valley near Stellenbosch, and has been traced to two carriage horses brought into the area from Frankfurt, Free State, on March 3.

Slightly more than two years ago the European Union agreed to a quarantine procedure for the export of South African horses after negotiations. If this AHS outbreak is determined to be serious, equine exports from South Africa could be banned for two years.

Since the Western Cape has long been free of AHS, horses in the region are generally not vaccinated against the disease