EQUINE INFLUENZA IN TUNISIA
(Date of previous outbreak of equine influenza in Tunisia reported to the OIE: 1998).
Immediate notification report
Translation of information received on 16 June 2005 from Prof. Malek Zrelli, Director General of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, Tunis:
Report date: 16 June 2005.
Reason for immediate notification: re-occurrence of a listed disease or infection in a country or zone/compartment.
Precise identification of agent: equine-2 influenza virus (H3N8).
Date of first confirmation of the event: 14 June 2005.
Date of start of the event: 30 May 2005.
Clinical disease: yes.
Nature of diagnosis: clinical and laboratory.
Details of outbreak:
| First administrative division | Lower administrative division | Type of epide-miolo-gical unit | Name of the location | Date of start of the outbreak | Spe-cies | Number of animals in the outbreak | ||||
| susceptible | cases | deaths | destroyed | slaugh-tered | ||||||
| Manouba | Ksar Said | farm | Ksar Said | 30 May 2005 | equ | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Description of affected population: stable, comprising 13 purebred Arab and English thoroughbred racehorses, totally isolated and without contact with other stables or farms in the vicinity.
Diagnosis:
| Laboratory where diagnosis was made | Species examined | Diagnostic tests used | Date | Results |
| French Agency for Food Safety (AFSSA(1)), Maisons-Alfort, France | equ |
- ELISA(2); - ELISA(2); - complement fixation test. |
14 June 2005 | positive |
| haemagglutination inhibition test | 15 June 2005 | positive |
Source of outbreak or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive. Incorrectly vaccinated animals.
Control measures undertaken:
- quarantine;
- movement control inside the country;
- vaccination;
- disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s).
Vaccination in response to the outbreak:
| First administrative division | Species | Total number of vaccinated animals | Details of the vaccine |
| Manouba | equ | ... | inactivated vaccine, with adjuvant |
Treatment of affected animals: yes (antibiotics, antipyretics and vitamin C).
Vaccination prohibited: no.
Other details/comments:
- Controlled, limited outbreak.
- Information note sent to regional Veterinary Services, with centres where horses are gathered (training and racing centres, horse farms and stud farms) being placed under surveillance.
- Awareness campaign to ensure that horse owners and breeders respect the equine influenza vaccination protocol.
- Launching of booster vaccination for racehorses and sports horses.
(1) AFSSA: French Agency for Food Safety.
(2) ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay