17/05/2026
Equine influenza cases are rapidly increasing, spreading across counties still. Some Livery Yards in North Yorkshire nearly have all horses tested positive.
A substantial proportion of outbreaks continue to involve horses that have recently moved premises prior to the onset of clinical signs, reinforcing the role of horse movement in disease dissemination
Horse owners and their veterinary surgeons should be vigilant for the emergence of signs of respiratory disease (pyrexia (fever), inappetence, coughing and nasal discharge) among animals under their care in non-vaccinated animals, although signs in vaccinated horses should be taken seriously and also be investigated.
Infected horses will spread the virus through coughing and can shed the virus for up to 10 days. Equine Influenza can be highly contagious and – unlike other infectious diseases – can be airborne over reasonable distances as well as be transmitted indirectly, including via people. There are no known consequences for humans associated with exposure to the disease.
Monitor all horses for clinical signs and record their re**al temperatures daily; they should be less than 38.5° C.
Infected horses should be isolated until your vet advises they are no longer infected. All horse movements on and off the yard should be stopped. Booster vaccinate all in-contacts if it’s more than six months since their last vaccine, as this has been shown to provide horses with better protection against flu.
Horse owners, yard managers and veterinary surgeons are encouraged to adopt a risk-based approach when moving horses, particularly between premises and events. Vigilance for early clinical signs, maintaining up-to-date vaccination status, and implementing isolation protocols for new arrivals remain essential components of disease control
