Equine Flu

Equine influenza is a highly contagious disease of the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by different strains of the equine influenza virus and is passed from horse to horse through coughing or sharing feed buckets and other equipment. Not only is it an extremely debilitating disease, but it is also one that causes major economic impact to the horse industry each year.

  1. Symptoms

    • While the symptoms of equine influenza may vary depending on the immune status of the horse and the strain of virus, a sudden high fever, coughing, nasal discharge and a swelling of the lymph nodes under the jaw are indicators of the disease. In some cases bacterial infections can also develop, leading to bacterial pneumonia, which can be fatal. In addition, some horses can have the disease and not show any symptoms; they are still contagious, however.

    Occurrence

    • Foals are more susceptible to the equine influenza virus.

      Young horses between one and five years of age are most susceptible to the disease, with foals being extremely vulnerable. It is more common in horses that are around large numbers of other horses, such as at shows or other equine events or in boarding stables. While older horses may also contract influenza, they usually have a milder form.

    Prognosis and Treatment

    • If there are no complications, horses infected by the virus will totally recover in three to four weeks. You should refrain from training or strenuously working your horse until he is completely recovered and no coughing remains. Veterinarians may recommend anti-inflammatory drugs for horses with extremely high fevers. Cough suppressants may also be helpful.

    Prevention

    • Vaccinations can help prevent the illness.

      Most horses can avoid the disease if vaccinated. The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends giving a series of three boosters to adult horses that are not vaccinated or up to date on vaccinations, followed by semi-annual inoculations. The vaccination comes in both an intramuscular form and an intranasal form. A 14-day quarantine for all horses new to the premises or that have been gone for some time is recommended. In addition, having separate brushes, buckets and other utensils for each horse will help curb occurrences.

    Economic Impact

    • Despite the availability of vaccinations for the disease, the economic impact of equine influenza each year is staggering. An outbreak of the disease in Australia in 2007 is estimated to have cost the industry at least US$900 million. During the outbreak, horse racing came to an end as did other equine events. The government also limited movement of horses, which virtually paralyzed transportation of mares to stallions for breeding. Similar losses have been experienced by other countries with outbreaks of the disease.