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Basic Steps to Preventing the Spread of Horse Flu

Keep your horse(s) at home or wherever they are currently situated. Even if your horses are well and you do not think they could have horse flu, do not attempt to move them even if you think there is a safer, a better or a more convenient place to keep them.

Look after your own horse(s) but avoid visiting horses at other places, even if they belong to friends and even if you think the other horses are well and not at risk of having horse flu. The greatest risk of spread is horse people visiting other horse people and / or horses! Likewise, until the epidemic is over, don't allow other people to visit your horses.

If you have absolutely no alternative to visiting other horses venues or horses (eg you work there or need to feed someone else's horses) please shower and wash carefully and put on a completely fresh set of clothes (including shoes) after contact with your own horses and before you go to the other horses. Please repeat the process when you leave the other horses before you come home to your own horses. Do not put discarded clothes on again before washing them. Wash your clothes in a full wash cycle and scrub your shoes with a disinfectant for 5 minutes. Horse equipment (saddles, bridles, rugs, feedbins, farrier tools, horse dentist equipment, vet equipment etc) are very difficult to disinfect and should only be used within one horse establishment / farm.

Horse flu is so infectious that you can safely assume that if one horse in your stables / farm has the disease, all the horses will get it. Precautions within your stables / farm are not necessary - but it is crucial that we cease the contact between horses in different stables / farms until the epidemic dies down.

If you suspect that your horse has horse flu (a deep hacking cough is the main symptom, but horses may have a temperature [normal horse temperature is 37.5 degrees to 38.5 degrees], a runny nose or be unwell) please contact your local vet. It is possible that your vet may be unable to attend your horses due to the scale of the epidemic - if so please ring the Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
(Prepared by Dr Vince Roche)
If you register on the Horse Emergency Contact Database (HECD) at www.horsecouncil.org.au you will receive updates by email.

If you suspect equine influenza in your horse(s) phone the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888

Extract from the National Hotline

WHAT IS THE EQUINE INFLUENZA INCIDENT?

An Equine influenza infection is highly suspected in horses stabled in Sydney in two locations.

WHAT IS EI?

Equine influenza (EI) is an acute, highly contagious, viral disease which can cause rapidly spreading outbreaks of respiratory disease in horses, donkeys, mules and other equine species. EI is exotic to Australia and would have a major impact on the Australian horse industry if it were to become established here.

HOW IS EI SPREAD?

The virus is usually spread by:

Direct contact between infected and susceptible horses
Indirect contact with contaminated tack or equipment
Susceptible horses occupying buildings or vehicles recently occupied by diseased horses
Close contact between contaminated horse handlers and healthy horses

CAN PEOPLE CATCH EI?

Transmission of EI virus to humans has not occurred during outbreaks of EI in horses. Equine influenza poses no threat to people, however it can be spread from people to horses via infected clothing.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY HORSE HAS EI?

The main clinical signs of EI are usually a sudden increase in temperature (to between 39°C and 41°C); a deep, dry, hacking cough; and a watery nasal discharge, which may later become thick and smelly. Other signs can include depression, loss of appetite, laboured breathing, and muscle pain and stiffness. Few adult horses die of the disease but it can kill young foals. Recovery usually occurs after a couple of weeks but horses need to be rested for a further period to avoid complications.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR EI?

There is no specific treatment other than rest and supportive treatment for the fever and cough. Horses that are worked or stressed while sick or during recovery may develop secondary bacterial bronchitis or bronchopneumonia and die. Horses should be rested for at least one week for every day of coughing e.g. if the horse coughs for 5 days, rest it for 5 weeks.

WHAT RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN PUT ON HORSE MOVEMENTS IN NSW?

All movements of horses in NSW have been restricted in an effort to control the spread of Equine Influenza and to prevent it from becoming established in Australia. New South Wales Department of Primary Industries is sending Inspectors under the Stock Diseases Act 1923 to inspect horses where there is concern that they may have been exposed to an infected horse. Some horses, which were in transit when the restriction was put in place, were allowed to continue their journey.

WHAT RESTRICTION ARE ON HORSE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER STATES?

It has been agreed that all states and territories will implement a standstill on the movement of horses for at least the next 72 hours.

Horse transporters are requested to abide by the standstill and ensure their vehicles and equipment are cleaned before any future use.

Animal health authorities recommend that all equine events and gatherings should not take place during time.
Horse owners are being asked not to move horses from their properties and that they keep informed about updates for further restrictions. Avoid contact between your horses and other horses.

A number of race meetings have been called off in Australian states. Agricultural Shows, Breed Shows and other horse events have also been cancelled throughout NSW.

Racing clubs and other equine associations are being asked to cancel or postpone any meetings or events.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY HORSE IS AT AN EVENT?

Horses at events outside NSW can return directly home provided the travel is only within the state where the event is being held. Horse owners currently at events can return directly home after thorough cleaning of all their equipment.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MY HORSE?

Keep your horse away from other horses. If you have contact with other horses scrub your footwear in disinfectant, shower and change your clothes before handling your horse. If you have contact with a sick horse do not go near another horse for 72 hours.

HOW DO I PROTECT MY PROPERTY FROM A POSSIBLE INFECTION?

Before entering or leaving any premises holding horses, horse owners or handlers should:

Wear clothes and footwear which have had no contact with horses
If there is any doubt, clothes should be laundered in a hot wash or dry-cleaned and footwear be cleaned and disinfected
Shower or wash using plenty of warm water and soap
Clean and disinfect any item or equipment that may have been in contact with horses including horse transport vehicles

People having no contact with horses need take no special precautions.

WHAT ABOUT MY FEED DELIVERY?

Non-essential vehicles and visitors must be prevented from entering areas of the premises that hold horses. Arrange whenever possible for collection and delivery of supplies to take place at the boundary of the premises.

SHOULD I CANCEL MY FARRIER/CHIROPRACTOR/DENTIST/MASSAGE THERAPIST?

Access to properties should only be allowed if the matter is an emergency. Where possible do not make arrangements for these types of visits until after the stock standstill has been removed. Where visits do take place ensure appropriate disinfection occurs by the property owner and the visitor.

HOW DO I DISINFECT MY GEAR?

Equine influenza virus can easily be killed by vigorous cleaning and disinfection of potentially contaminated hands, clothing and objects and is rapidly inactivated by exposure to ultraviolet light.

A dirty surface must always be cleaned thoroughly before it can be satisfactorily disinfected.

Organic material such as dirt, manure and straw may neutralise the disinfectant and make it useless. It is therefore most important that anything that must be disinfected is first thoroughly washed and cleaned and finally washed down or sprayed with an approved disinfectant. Bleach, diluted as per the manufacturer's recommendation, is a suitable disinfectant. Specific agents to kill viruses are available. Please consult your veterinarian for further information. As disinfectants and chemicals can be irritant, persons handling them should always read the product label and follow the manufacturer's instructions, and wear protective clothing as necessary.

IF MY HORSE IS INFECTED HOW DO I DISPOSE OF CONTAMINATED BEDDING OR FEED?

Contaminated materials from stables can be disposed of by burning (where approved), by burial or by composting. The virus that causes equine influenza does not survive long in the environment.

DO CARRIER ANIMALS EXIST?

No. Once an animal has recovered and a sufficient time (30 days) has elapsed they pose no risk to other horses.

WHY IS CONTROLLING THE EQUINE INFLUENZA OUTBREAK IMPORTANT?

EI would have a major impact on livestock health and on the horse industry if it were to become established in the horse population. All horses will be permanently at risk of infection with subsequent impacts on competitive and domestic activities.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY HORSE IS INFECTED?

All infected properties are being placed in quarantine to ensure that the affected animals do not move and the disease does not spread. Quarantines will be maintained until at least 30 days after the last signs were seen in affected horses.

ARE INFECTED HORSES KILLED?

Horses are not killed. Infected horses or donkeys are quarantined in order to prevent spread of the disease.

WHY ARE MOVEMENTS AND EVENTS BEING RESTRICTED?

The primary spread of equine influenza is by contact between infected horses. In order to ensure spread does not occur all horse movements have been prohibited.

IS THERE A VACCINE AVAILABLE?

There are vaccines overseas but none will be available for use in the short term, especially since vaccination can complicate the diagnosis of the disease. We hope to eradicate the infection so permanent vaccination or horses in Australia will not be required.

I AM LIKELY TO LOSE MONEY BECAUSE OF THIS DISEASE - CAN I SEEK COMPENSATION?

No, there is no compensation for loss of income or production. These controls are intended to benefit the whole industry, including domestic horse owners, in the long term.

WHO IS PAYING FOR THE CONTROL ACTIVITY?

All emergency animal diseases, such as equine influenza, are cost-shared under existing agreements between government and the relevant industries. Initial activities are undertaken by the lead agency, in this case NSW Department of Primary Industries.