African Horse Sickness

African Horse Sickness (AHS) is a non-contagious, insect-borne infectious disease of equids. Although equids are the primary hosts, natural disease has been reported in other species.

Since AHS is a non-contagious infectious disease, it is not transmitted by direct contact between horses. It is an insect-transmitted disease, with midges (Culicoides spp.) serving as the primary vector. The disease is endemic in tropical equatorial regions of sub-Saharan Africa from which it spreads regularly to southern Africa and occasionally, to northern Africa.