Direct Exposure

• Influenza is an airborne virus, which is released into the air when an infected horse breathes or coughs. The infected horse spreads the virus in this manner for up to 14 days from initial infection.
  
  

Indirect Exposure

• The Influenza virus spreads via clothing, grooming supplies, tack, stall posts and trailers. When the infected horse breaths or coughs and released the virus into the air, it can stick to these objects and be transferred when they are then used for another horse.
  
  

Symptoms

• Older horses, which are more susceptible to equine influenza typically, develop a high fever, cough and clear nasal discharge. If the horse returns to work too early, the heart and liver cells are susceptible to damage by the viral infection.
  
  Young horses that are unvaccinated and live in a crowded, poorly ventilated area generally become very ill and sometimes die due to pneumonia caused by secondary bacterial infections.
  
  

Treatment

• Complete rest for three to six weeks is vital in to help damaged tissues heal. Good ventilation is essential, as there is evidence that horses suffering from influenza are especially susceptible to the effects of stable dust and readily become sensitized to its affects. Mucolytic agents--drugs that liquefy tacky mucus--and antibiotics will help to control the secondary infections that so often occur. Typically veterinarians use Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) when the horse's fever is greater than 104 degrees.If the fever persists for longer than four days, give antibiotics to fight secondary infections.
  
  

Prevention

• Vaccines against equine influenza have existed for decades and where it is possible to vaccinate more than 70 percent of a local population, there is success at preventing the development of an epidemic. In recent years, the new vaccines have improved immunity up to 10 to 15 months. However, it is still important to vaccinate more often if your horse is at high risk or exposed regularly to a high number of horses, such as the case for competitive horses. Additionally, quarantining new horses or horses that may have been exposed form the horse population for 14 days can prevent an epidemic.