Division 2.2 Specific requirements for Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis

Equine animals must comply with at least one of the following requirements:

1. (a)

   the animals have been vaccinated against Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis with a complete primary course and revaccinated in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations during a period of not less than 60 days and not more than 12 months prior to the date of dispatch to the Union and have been kept in vector-protected quarantine for a period of at least 21 days prior to the date of dispatch to the Union, and during that period they have remained clinically healthy, and their body temperature, taken daily, has remained within the normal physiological range.

   Any other equine animal on the same establishment which showed a rise in body temperature, taken daily, was subjected to a blood test for virus isolation for Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis with negative results;

2. (b)

   the animals have not been vaccinated against Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis and have been and were kept in vector-protected quarantine for a period of at least 21 days, and during that period they have remained clinically healthy, and their body temperature, taken daily, has remained within the normal physiological range. During quarantine the animals were subjected to a diagnostic test for Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, with negative results, conducted on a sample taken not less than 14 days after the date of entry of the animals into the vector-protected quarantine; the animals remained protected from vector insects until dispatch.

   Any other equine animal on the same establishment that showed a rise in body temperature, taken daily, was subjected to a blood test for virus isolation for Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis with negative results;

3. (c)

   the animals have been subjected to a haemagglutination inhibition test for Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis carried out by the same laboratory on the same day on samples taken on two occasions with an interval of 21 days, the second of which was taken during a period of 10 days prior to the date of dispatch, without an increase in antibody titre, and an RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) test for the detection of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus genome, carried out with negative result on a sample taken within 48 hours prior to dispatch, and have been protected from vector attacks from the moment of the RT-PCR sampling until loading for dispatch, by combined use of approved insect repellents and insecticides on the animals and disinsection of the stable and the means in which they are transported.