EQUINE FLU – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

As many of you will have heard on the national news there is a national outbreak of equine flu which can affect the whole equestrian community…if your horse has any symptoms ensure you contact your vet immediately.

Article from Horse & Hound. For more treanding news and updates go to Horse & Hound

Equine flu - as equine influenza is more commonly known, is caused by various strains of the influenza virus that affect the upper and lower respiratory tract of horses, donkeys and mules. The virus is similar to the flu virus that affects people, but it is not identical, so horses cannot be infected by human influenza or vice versa. Equine flu is endemic in the British horse population.

Once the virus has been inhaled, it invades the lining (epithelium) of the airway, which becomes inflamed, producing a very sore throat and a nasty cough. This damage causes patches of the membranes lining the airways to ulcerate, which disrupts the clearance of mucus and debris from the airways. Bacteria invade these damaged areas leading to further infections.

As with human version, equine flu is very contagious. With an incubation period of one to five days, it spreads rapidly. The disease is spread by the virus being released into the atmosphere by infected animals. It is mainly acquired through inhalation of virus from ill animals coughing and spluttering. Indirect spread is also possible via buckets or grooms/handlers/nurses/vets. Unlike strangles and some other infections, the flu virus does not linger nor survive for long outside the horse.

Signs of equine flu

• A very high temperature of 39-41C (103-106F) which lasts for one to three days
• A frequent harsh, dry cough that can last for several weeks
• A clear, watery nasal discharge that may become thick and yellow or green
• Enlarged glands under the lower jaw
• Clear discharge from the eyes and redness around eyes
• Depression and loss of appetite
• Filling of the lower limbs

If you suspect your horse has equine influenza, you should contact your vet. As soon as a horse shows any suspect signs, strict hygiene and isolation procedures should be adhered to.

Horses that have been in contact with an affected animal should be carefully monitored and should not attend shows. It is recommended that horses on a stable yard with an outbreak of equine flu do not leave the premises while the outbreak is ongoing.

Diagnosis

An accurate diagnosis of equine flu can be made by:

• recognising the clinical signs and the history of rapid spread between horses
• isolation of the virus through nasal or nasopharyngeal swabs
• rising antibody levels in blood (serum) samples taken early in the course of the disease and two to three weeks later
• history of recent contact with a confirmed case of the disease

Vaccinated horses may show signs, but these are usually milder than those experienced by unvaccinated horses.

Treatment

Horses with respiratory infections should be given complete rest. Ideally, they should not restart any strenuous exercise until two weeks after the signs have gone.

Good stable ventilation and management is essential. Exposure to dust and spores should be minimised, as horses with respiratory infections are more susceptible to airway irritation. It is best to switch to dust-free bedding and feed-soaked hay, or better still haylage and feed this from the floor.

If weather permits, affected horses benefit from being turned out for at least part of the day once their temperatures have returned to normal. This is especially important in the recovery stages.

Antibiotics have no effect against a virus, but can be useful to control secondary bacterial invasion. This is a risk in foals, which can succumb to fatal pneumonia. Medications to help breathing can prove beneficial.

Prevention

Equine flu is difficult to control, especially in horses that are frequently transported and mixed extensively. Outbreaks are most common when young susceptible horses are brought together at sales and shows, or for weaning and training. Vaccination is the preferred method of control and is compulsory when competing under British Horseracing Authority, FEI and affiliated governing bodies’ rules in the UK.

The current vaccination schedule is:

• 1^stvaccine
• 2^ndvaccine (21-92 days after first)
• 3^rdvaccine (150-215 days after second)

To compete, horses require booster vaccinations not more than 365 days from their last vaccination. Horses must not have been vaccinated less than seven days before racing. Horses competing under FEI rules must have received a booster vaccination not more than six months and 21 days prior to competing. If you compete under affiliated rules, please refer to the appropriate rulebook to ensure your horse’s vaccinations comply with their requirements.

If the disease occurs locally, it may be advisable to give a booster vaccination to any horse that has not been vaccinated in the previous six months.

Consult your vet for advice.