THE VIRUS THAT HAS BROUGHT RACING TO A HALT
WHAT IS EQUINE INFLUENZA?
IT IS a highly contagious virus which can affect horses, donkeys and mules of any age, sex or breed. The virus attacks the airways, prevents drainage of fluid from the lungs and can even lead to pneumonia. Symptoms include a snotty nose, high temperature, muscle soreness and lack of appetite.
HOW SERIOUS IS IT?
THE severity of the disease depends on the strain of the virus. It can be dangerous and occasionally fatal to horses that have not been vaccinated, young foals, mares in foal and horses that are already ill with other diseases. Healthy adult horses are not normally at risk of death. Humans are also not at risk, but can transmit the virus.
HOW DOES IT SPREAD?
THE virus is easily transmitted by nose-to-nose contact between horses, indirectly by airborne particles or through contaminated clothing and equipment.
HOW ARE SICK HORSES TREATED?
INFECTED horses should be isolated. There are no anti-viral drugs but anti-inflammatories can lower temperature and reduce muscle soreness. In severe cases, intravenous fluids may be necessary and antibiotics can be administered if a secondary infection sets in.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER?
THE illness lasts from two to 10
days but it takes up to two months for the respiratory tract to completely repair. Horses should be given a week to recover for every day they were sick.
HOW ARE HORSES PROTECTED?
THOROUGHBRED racehorses must be vaccinated. They are given a primary course of three injections followed by an annual booster. Some trainers give boosters more regularly. Vaccinations for a racehorse are recorded in its passport. Failure to keep this up-to-date would result in disciplinary action against the trainer from the British Horseracing Authority and a fine.
HAS THERE BEEN AN OUTBREAK BEFORE?
THE disease broke out in Australia in 2007 and took six months to be removed. The BHA said the situation in the UK is not the same because Australian thoroughbreds, unlike those in Britain and Ireland, are not vaccinated against equine influenza.