Following recent confirmed outbreaks of equine influenza we would like our equine clients to remain alert about the disease.
Equine influenza is endemic in the U.K but a recent spike in outbreaks has been reported by the Animal Health Trust.
Equine Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease affecting horses.
Symptoms include :
● A cough
● Nasal discharge
● High temperature (>38.5C)
Symptoms can vary from mild to severe.
If you suspect that your horse is showing symptoms of equine influenza it is best to isolate the horse from others and contact your nearest branch to arrange a visit.
The disease is spread from nasal secretions from horse to horse or from virus on clothing or hands of people who have handled infected horses, the virus can also be spread through being airborne.
High risk yards – if you have horses on a busy yard with multiple horses coming and going it is recommended that you keep up to date with a vaccine and to have a booster vaccination if your horse has not been vaccinated in the last 6 months. All horses should be vaccinated not just the horses that travel, as vaccinated horses can still become mildly infected (for a shorter duration, with reduced virus shedding and reduced severity of clinical signs) and can therefore bring the virus to the yard an infect others. Any horse showing clinical signs should be isolated immediately.
Low risk yards – If (like many of our clients) you have a relative isolated yard with a low number of horses without horses coming or going off the yard, the risk of catching equine influenza is reduced but is not zero. As the virus has been reported to be capable of airborne travel up to 5 km it is still advisable to have your horses covered by vaccination including a booster if not vaccinated in the last 6 months.
