Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2010/January 2011 | Page 135

the rider

Island Life - December 2010

WATCH OUT! - FLU's ABOUT
One Sunday afternoon a competition

WHAT HAPPENED?

horse vaccinated against flu returns

At Sunday’s show the horse that

from a local show. On Thursday one

competed became exposed to flu from

of the “happy hackers” on the yard

another horse, but he was vaccinated,

is coughing, hasn’t touched his feed

so showed no symptoms. However, on

and is holding his head down, looking

returning to the yard, the virus was

miserable. By Friday an elderly horse

‘carried’ to horses with an immune

and one other become depressed, go off

system completely unprepared for flu

their food and have nasal discharges.

and it was able to cause serious illness.

Photo: Protect your horse against
new Flu strains

Why should I
vaccinate?
Firstly your horse will feel exactly the same as we do when
we have the flu – rotten. Also, in becoming infected your
horse stands a real chance of infecting many others with the

Don't get
caught out
with a cough!

virus. Equine flu is very contagious and there is almost 100%
infection rate in a non-vaccinated population.
It is essential that as much of the UK equine population

As the days shorten
and the skies turn

as possible is fully vaccinated; not just competition horses.

grey, so sniffly

Ideally 100% of horses should be vaccinated to ensure

noses, coughs and

maximum protection. With only 38% of UK horses currently

colds become more

vaccinated, we risk more frequent outbreaks, such as the one

common as the

seen this September in Hampshire! But vaccine brands must
keep up with the virus. Make sure YOUR horse is receiving
the correct one!
A single case of Equine flu in Australia in 2007 spread in
less than 3 weeks
to infect 76,000

viruses which cause
them are more able
to spread.
Human flu, caused
by the highly infectious influenza virus, is now considered

horses on 10,000

so serious that vaccination programs are available. The

premises over an

horse flu virus is closely related to the human form

area of 107 square

although horse flu cannot infect humans.

miles. None were

In the case of horses, the disease spreads rapidly and

vaccinated. This

is equally dangerous for the Equine population. In fact,

was a massive

it is the most potentially damaging of the respiratory

welfare issue for

viruses that occurs in horses in the UK and has serious

the horses and a

welfare implications. Outbreaks can occu "B