Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis

Article 12.11.1.

General provisions

For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, the infective period for Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) shall be 14 days, and the incubation period 5 days.

Standards for diagnostic tests and vaccines are described in the Terrestrial Manual.

Article 12.11.2.

VEE free country

A country formerly infected with VEE may be considered free when:

1. VEE is notifiable and a surveillance system is in place and provides that all VEE suspected animals are investigated promptly; specimens are collected, and all specimens are submitted for laboratory examination, including virus isolation;

2. no case of VEE has been confirmed for the past two years;

3. no equine animal has been imported from any country where VEE has been confirmed during the past two years.

If a country considered free from VEE imports horses from an infected country, the importing country will not be considered infected, provided that the importation has been carried out in accordance with Article 12.11.5.

Article 12.11.3.

Trade in commodities

Veterinary Authorities of VEE free countries may prohibit importation or transit through their territory, from countries considered infected with VEE, of domestic and wild equines, and may prohibit the importation into their territory, from countries considered infected with VEE, of semen and oocytes or embryos of domestic and wild equines.

Article 12.11.4.

Recommendations for importation from VEE free countries

For domestic and wild equines

The Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animals:

1. showed no clinical sign of VEE on the day of shipment;

2. have not, during the past six months, been in any country in which VEE has occurred in the last two years;

3. have not been vaccinated against VEE within 60 days prior to shipment.

Article 12.11.5.

Recommendations for importation from countries considered infected with VEE

For domestic and wild equines

The Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that:

1. vaccinated animals:

   1. were vaccinated against VEE not less than 60 days prior to shipment and were clearly identified with a permanent mark at the time of vaccination;

   2. were kept in a quarantine station in the country of origin under official veterinary supervision for three weeks prior to shipment and remained clinically healthy during that period; any animal which showed a rise in temperature (taken daily) was subjected to a blood test for virus isolation, with negative results;

   3. were protected from insect vectors during transportation to and from the quarantine station and during the quarantine period;

   4. showed no clinical sign of VEE on the day of shipment;

2. unvaccinated animals:

   1. were kept in a quarantine station in the country of origin under official veterinary supervision for three weeks prior to shipment and remained clinically healthy during that period; any animal which showed a rise in temperature (taken daily) was subjected to a blood test for virus isolation, with negative results;

   2. were subjected to a diagnostic test for VEE with negative results conducted not less than 14 days after the commencement of quarantine;

   3. were protected from insect vectors during transportation to and from the quarantine station and during the quarantine period;

   4. showed no clinical sign of VEE on the day of shipment.

In addition, animals may be isolated in the importing country for seven days under official veterinary supervision. Any animal which shows a rise in temperature (taken daily) shall be subjected to a blood test for virus isolation.

nb: first adopted in 1976; most recent update adopted in 1998.