For the Health of It is believed to have increased significantly in recent years . What happened in the Iberian Peninsula in 1987 and Thailand in 2020 highlights the inherent risks of introducing a disease , such as AHS , into previously disease-free countries .
The influence of climate change and global warming on the epidemiology of AHS must also be considered vis-à-vis the threat it poses for a disease-free country . Increased ambient temperatures and reduced rainfall over a period of years has resulted in more widespread geographic distribution of some of the major vectors of AHS , especially C . imicola , in southern Europe . An increase in ambient temperature can influence not only the life cycle of the Culicoides vector but also replication of the virus in the vector . As temperatures rise , the infection rate in Culicoides midges increases and transmission of the virus can occur sooner , however there is a concomitant decrease in the survival rate of the adult Culicoides . The overall result of these changes is a higher transmission rate of the virus in a country possibly at risk of the introduction of AHS .
The occurrence in Thailand and the very recent confirmation of AHS in Malaysia underscore the importance of increasing awareness and familiarity with this dreaded disease among animal health officials , veterinarians and members of the equine industry around the world . The potential consequences of AHS for the health of a country ’ s equine population and economy highlight the need for an adequate level of national preparedness in a ) minimizing the risk of introduction of this disease , b ) maintaining a program of active surveillance for the disease and c ) having a response plan in place in the remote event of the introduction of the disease .
The take-home message from past and recent occurrences of AHS is that there is no room for complacency over the potential threat it represents for disease free-countries ..
CONTACT : Peter Timoney , MVB , MS , PhD , FRCVS ptimoney @ uky . edu ( 859 ) 218-1094
Maxwell H . Gluck Equine Research Center University of Kentucky Lexington , Kentucky
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