Terrestrial Animal Health Code
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Terrestrial Animal Health Code |
Infection with equine influenza virus
General provisions
For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, equine influenza (EI) is defined as an infection of domestic equids.
This chapter deals not only with the occurrence of clinical signs caused by equine influenza virus (EIV), but also with the presence of infection with EIV in the absence of clinical signs.
For the purposes of this chapter, isolation is defined as ‘the separation of domestic equids from domestic equids of a different EI health status, utilising appropriate biosecurity measures, with the purpose of preventing the transmission of infection’.
For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, the infective period for EI shall be 21 days.
When authorising import or transit of the commodities listed in this chapter, with the exception of those listed in Article 12.6.2., Veterinary Authorities should require the conditions prescribed in this chapter relevant to the EI status of the equine population of the exporting country, zone or compartment.
Standards for diagnostic tests and vaccines are described in the Terrestrial Manual.
Safe commodities
When authorising import or transit of the following commodities, Veterinary Authorities should not require any EIV related conditions, regardless of the EI status of the equine population of the exporting country, zone or compartment:
equine semen;
in vivo derived equine embryos collected, processed and stored in accordance with Chapters 4.7. and 4.9., as relevant (under study).
Determination of the EI status of a country, a zone or a compartment
The EI status of a country, a zone or a compartment can be determined on the basis of the following criteria:
the outcome of a risk assessment identifying all risk factors and their historic relevance;
whether EI is notifiable in the whole country, an ongoing EI awareness programme is in place, and all notified suspect occurrences of EI are subjected to field and, where applicable, laboratory investigations;
appropriate surveillance is in place to demonstrate the presence of infection in the absence of clinical signs in domestic equids.
EI free country, zone or compartment
A country, zone or compartment may be considered free from EI provided the disease is notifiable in the whole country and it shows evidence, through an effective surveillance programme, planned and implemented in accordance with the general principles in Chapter 1.4., that no case of EI occurred in the past two years. The surveillance may need to be adapted to parts of the country, zone or compartment depending on historical or geographical factors, industry structure, population data, movements of equids within and into the country, zone or compartment, wild equine populations or proximity to recent outbreaks.
A country, zone or compartment seeking freedom from EI, in which vaccination is practised, should also demonstrate that EIV has not been circulating in the population of domestic, feral and wild equids during the past 12 months, through surveillance, in accordance with Chapter 1.4. In a country in which vaccination is not practised, surveillance may be conducted using serological testing alone. In countries where vaccination is practised, the surveillance should include agent identification methods described in the Terrestrial Manual for evidence of infection.
A country, zone or compartment seeking freedom from EI should apply appropriate movement controls to minimise the risk of introduction of EIV in accordance with this chapter.
If an outbreak of clinical EI occurs in a previously free country, zone or compartment, free status can be regained 12 months after the last clinical case, providing that surveillance for evidence of infection has been carried out during that twelve-month period in accordance with Chapter 1.4.
Recommendations for the importation of domestic equids for immediate slaughter
Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the domestic equids showed no clinical sign of EI on the day of shipment.
Recommendations for the importation of domestic equids for unrestricted movement
Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the domestic equids:
came from an EI free country, zone or compartment in which they had been resident for at least 21 days; in the case of a vaccinated domestic equid, information on its vaccination status should be included in the veterinary certificate;
OR
came from a country, zone or compartment not known to be free from EI, were subjected to pre-export isolation for 21 days and showed no clinical sign of EI during isolation nor on the day of shipment; and
were immunised in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer with a vaccine complying with the standards described in the Terrestrial Manual between 21 and 90 days before shipment either with a primary course or a booster; information on their vaccination status should be included in the veterinary certificate or the passport in accordance with Chapter 5.12.
For additional security, countries that are free of EI or undertaking an eradication programme may also request that the domestic equids were tested negative for EIV by an agent identification test for EI described in the Terrestrial Manual conducted on samples collected on two occasions at 7 to 14 days and less than 5 days before shipment.
Recommendations for the importation of domestic equid which will be kept in isolation (see Article 12.6.1.)
Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the domestic equids:
came from an EI free country, zone or compartment in which they had been resident for at least 21 days; in the case of a vaccinated domestic equid, information on its vaccination status should be included in the veterinary certificate;
OR
showed no clinical sign of EI in any premises in which the domestic equids had been resident for the 21 days prior to shipment nor on the day of shipment; and
were immunised in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer with a vaccine complying with the standards described in the Terrestrial Manual; information on their vaccination status should be included in the veterinary certificate or the passport in accordance with Chapter 5.12.
Recommendations for the importation of fresh meat of equids
Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the fresh meat came from equids which had been subjected to ante- and post-mortem inspections as described in Chapter 6.2.
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