Terrestrial Animal Health Code
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 and captive wild equids with equine influenza virus (EIV), i.e. subtypes H3N8 and H7N7 of influenza A viruses.
This chapter deals not only with the occurrence of clinical signs caused by infection with EIV, but also with the presence of infection with EIV in the absence of clinical signs.
The following defines the occurrence of infection with EIV:
EIV, excluding modified-live virus vaccine strains following recent vaccination, has been isolated and identified as such in a sample from a domestic or captive wild equid; or
antigen or nucleic acid specific to EIV has been detected in a sample from a domestic or captive wild equid showing clinical signs or pathological lesions consistent with equine influenza, or epidemiologically linked to a confirmed or suspected case of equine influenza; or
seroconversion due to recent exposure to EIV which is not the consequence of vaccination, has been detected in paired samples from a domestic or captive wild equid showing clinical signs or pathological lesions consistent with equine influenza, or epidemiologically linked to a confirmed or suspected case of infection with EIV.
For the purposes of the Terrestrial Code, the infective period for EI shall be 14 days.
For the purposes of this chapter, a temporary importation refers to the introduction of horses into a country or zone, for a defined period of time, not exceeding 90 days, during which the risk of transmission of the infection is mitigated through specific measures under the supervision of the Veterinary Authority. Temporarily imported horses are re-exported at the end of this period. The duration of the temporary importation period and the destination after this period, as well as the conditions required to leave the country or zone, should be defined in advance.
When authorising the importation 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 the importation or transit of the following commodities, Veterinary Authorities should not require any EIV-related conditions, regardless of the animal health status of the exporting country, zone or compartment:
equine semen;
in vivo derived equine embryos collected, processed and stored in accordance with Chapters 4.8. and 4.10., as relevant;
meat and meat products from equids that have been slaughtered in a slaughterhouse/abattoir and have been subjected to ante- and post-mortem inspections with favourable results.
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 and captive wild equids.
Country, zone or compartment free from EI
A country, zone or compartment may be considered free from EI provided that infection with EIV 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 infection with EIV 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, captive wild, 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 and should be in accordance with relevant requirements and principles described in Chapter 4.4. and Chapter 4.5.
Recovery of free status
If a case of infection with EIV occurs in a previously free country, zone or compartment, free status can be regained 12 months after the last case, provided that outbreaks were managed in accordance with Chapter 4.19. and that surveillance, in accordance with Article 12.6.4., has been carried out during that 12-month period, with negative results.
Recommendations for the importation of domestic and captive wild equids for immediate slaughter
Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the domestic or captive wild equids showed no clinical sign of EI on the day of shipment.
Recommendations for the importation of domestic and captive wild equids
Veterinary Authorities should require the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the domestic or captive wild equids:
came from an EI free country, zone or compartment in which they had been resident for at least 14 days; in the case of vaccinated equids, information on their vaccination status should be included in the veterinary certificate;
OR
were subjected to pre-export isolation for 14 days and showed no clinical sign of EI during isolation nor on the day of shipment; and
were vaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturer with a vaccine complying with the standards described in the Terrestrial Manual and considered effective against the epidemiologically relevant virus strains, in accordance with one of the following procedures:
between 14 and 90 days before shipment with either a primary course or a booster; or
between 14 and 180 days before shipment, if they are older than four years of age, having received up to the date of this pre-shipment vaccination, at least four doses of vaccine at intervals not greater than 180 days.
Information on the vaccination status should be included in the international veterinary certificate or the passport in accordance with Chapter 5.12. as relevant.
Countries that are free from EI or undertaking an eradication programme may also request that the equids were subjected to an agent identification test for EI described in the Terrestrial Manual with negative results, conducted on samples collected on two occasions, four to six days after commencement of pre-export isolation and within four days prior to shipment.
Recommendations for the temporary importation of horses
If the importation of horses on a temporary basis does not comply with the recommendations in Article 12.6.7., Veterinary Authorities of importing countries should:
require:
that the horses be accompanied by a passport in accordance with the model contained in Chapter 5.12. or be individually identified as belonging to a high health status subpopulation as defined in Chapter 4.17.;
the presentation of an international veterinary certificate attesting that the horses:
came from a country, zone or compartment free from EI, in which they had been resident for at least 14 days; in the case of vaccinated horses, information on their vaccination status should be included in the veterinary certificate;
OR
showed no clinical sign of EI in any premises in which the horses had been resident for the 14 days prior to shipment nor on the day of shipment; and
were vaccinated 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.;
ensure that during their stay in the country or zone horses are kept separated from domestic and captive wild equids of a different EI health status through appropriate biosecurity.
nb: first adopted in 1986; most recent update adopted in 2023.
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