Now Equine Influenza Makes News

Now Equine Influenza Makes News : 

Now Equine Influenza Makes News Dr. Kedar Karki

Background : 

Background The World Organisation for Animal Health alerted people about the outbreak of equine disease in Jammu Kashmir, Rajsthan and Gujrat of India in the first week of May. The risk of this disease flaring up in Nepal has increased as most of the horses for road transportation and mules plying in the hills and mid-hills for transporting people and commercial goods are usually brought from Gadhmuktswor of Rajasthan, India to the border horse trading spots. From here entrepreneurs bring these animals to Nepalganj and distribute them to different parts of the country.

Threat : 

Threat In Asia, an outbreak of this disease was suspected in 1985-86, which affected the horses in Bhopal area. It subsequently spread to other parts of that country where horse trading and racing take places. During this period, horses plying on the Nepalgunj-Rupaidiya route in Mid-west Nepal suffered from respiratory problems, due to which many horses died. This virus is said to usually emerge in epidemic form every 20 years. Against this background, this threat needs to be considered seriously to contain this disease in time.

Slide 4: 

Equine influenza, or horse flu, is a disease caused by strains of Influenza A that is endemic in horse species. Equine influenza occurs globally, and is caused by two main strains of the virus: equine-1 (H7N7) and equine-2 (H3N8). The disease has a nearly 100% infection rate in unvaccinated horses that have not been previously exposed to the virus

Slide 5: 

While equine influenza is known to affect humans, historically, the impact of an outbreak amongst even the animal population has been devastating. Because horses were heavily relied upon for communication (postal service), military (cavalry) and general transport - the social and economic impact of a widespread equine disease was devastating. Today the ramifications are most clear in the racing industry.

Slide 6: 

Equine influenza is characterised by a very high rate of transmission amongst horses and has a relatively short incubation time of 1-5 days. Horses with horse flu can run a fever, have a dry hacking cough, a runny nose and become depressed and reluctant to eat or drink for several days. But they usually recover in 2 to 3 weeks.

Slide 7: 

An 1872 report on equine influenza describes the disease as "an epizootic specific fever of a very debilitating type, with inflammation of the respiratory mucous membrane, and less frequently of other organs, having an average duration of 10 to 15 days, and not conferring immunity from a second attack in subsequent epizootics."

Slide 8: 

Viruses that cause equine influenza were first isolated in 1956. The viruses can cross the species-barrier to cause an epizootic disease in humans, and recently, in dogs. The equine-1 virus affects the heart muscle, while the equine-2 virus is much more severe and systemic. The disease primarily spreads between infected horses. Exposure to infected waste materials (urine and manure) in stables leads to rapid spread of the disease.

Slide 9: 

The report notes cases dating as far back as Hippocrates and Livius. Absyrtus, a Greek veterinarian from 330 CE, described a disease in the horse having the general characters of influenza, which the report flaunts as the earliest clear record of equine influenza in the lower animals.

Slide 10: 

The report notes the next recorded equine influenza case in 1299, the same year a catarrhal epidemic that affected Europe. Spanish records note cases in which "the horse carried his head drooping, would eat nothing, ran from the eyes, and there was hurried beating of the flanks. The malady was epidemic, and in that year one thousand horses died."

Slide 11: 

Prevalence of influenza is found in historic records dating through subsequent centuries of the Middle Ages, but direct implication of horses is not always clear. Neither are recorded instances of record deaths amongst horses and other animals clear about the exact cause of the deaths.

Slide 12: 

An epizootic outbreak of equine influenza in 1872 in North America became known as "The Great Epizootic of 1872". The outbreak is known as the "most destructive recorded episode of equine influenza in history". The impact of the outbreak is said to have been one of the major contributors to the Panic of 1873 in the United States.

Slide 13: 

Australia had remained free of equine influenza until an outbreak in August 2007. While the virus was successfully contained and Australia has returned to its equine influenza-free status, the outbreak had significant effects to the country’s racing industry.

Prevention : 

Prevention Prevention of equine influenza outbreaks are maintained through vaccines and hygiene procedures. Countries that are equine influenza-free will normally impose strict and rigorous quarantine measures. Vaccines are a major defence against the disease. Vaccination schedules generally require a primary course of vaccines, followed by booster shots. Standard schedules may not maintain absolutely foolproof levels of protection, and more frequent administration is advised in high-risk situations.