By EMMA HOPKINS-O’BRIEN

Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — In recent weeks, the number of animals infected with the equine influenza virus (EIV) has increased in Indiana and across the country, according to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH).

This month’s BOAH meeting noted EIV has infected several Indiana stables as well as others around the United States. BOAH believes the Indiana cases were possibly linked to exposure at a location in Ohio where other horses tested positive.

There is speculation that U.S. cases were triggered inadvertently via transportation from the United Kingdom and Europe, which have been dealing with a large outbreak of the disease. Europe’s struggle with the disease has caused the closure of more than 200 racetracks. Though highly contagious, EIV is usually not fatal.

“The most telltale signs of equine influenza are there will be a fever, nasal discharge that can range from clear and watery, to thicker, white discharge and a cough that can linger for weeks,” explained Lydia Mudd, an Indiana veterinarian from Janssen Vet Clinic. “Linked with the fever, they could have decreased appetite and seem depressed.”

In February, BOAH veterinarian Sandi Norman interviewed Mudd on the topic of equine flu in a Facebook Live event still archived on BOAH’s Facebook page via www.facebook.com/INBOAH

Mudd said the infection is spread via secretions from the respiratory tract, which can happen through nose-to-nose contact or coughing. A horse’s cough can spread up to 50 yards, which makes mucus contact between horses quite possible, even if they are housed outside.

Earlier in the year, Tennessee saw four cases of the flu, though no animals are infected now. Will Freeman, information officer for Tennessee’s Department of Agriculture, said the cases were handled swiftly and effectively.

“The infected horses were quarantined appropriately and the risk was minimized,” he explained. “Sick horses cannot directly infect people with EIV.”

Mudd said any owners who travel with their horses to shows or any other place where they have been in contact with other horses should be mindful of biosecurity risks, such as sharing buckets and being in contact with other horses. EIV can even be spread when fairgoers pet more than one horse in a barn.

Veterinarians suggest quarantining horses that have been off the farm for two weeks, upon their return. Though death caused by EIV is rare, Freeman said treatment is difficult and should be left to veterinarians.

“With EIV, it is much easier for horse owners to take preventive measures than to provide treatment,” he said. “Maintaining hygiene procedures with stable equipment and vaccinating your horses is a great start for prevention efforts. We recommend that all horse owners work with their veterinarian to decide the best vaccination plan for their horse.”

The reason EIV can get serious is it can make a horse much more susceptible to other diseases, and a fever from EIV alone can last 40 or more hours.

“The biggest thing that can happen secondary to EIV is horses can get bacterial pneumonia,” Mudd said, “which tends to be a lot more serious, and that’s when we definitely need to have veterinarian intervention by treating with antibiotics.”

As with any animal disease outbreak, it is important for horse owners to let their vet know when a horse is displaying clinical symptoms of EIV, and do their best to cooperate with biosecurity measures.

“We appreciate horse owners and industry leaders for working and coordinating with us during times of potential outbreaks,” Freeman said.