Horse flu (or Equine influenza) refers to varieties of influenzavirus A that are endemic in horses. Horse flu viruses were only isolated in 1956. There are two main types of virus called equine-1 (H7N7) which commonly affects horse heart muscle and equine-2 (H3N8) which is usually more severe. Horse flu is endemic throughout the world. Influenza, commonly known as the flu or the grippe, is a contagious disease of the upper airways and the lungs, caused by an RNA virus of the orthomyxoviridae family. ... Model of Influenza Virus from NIH The flu vaccine is a vaccine to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. ... Influenzavirus A is a genus of a family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... The transmission and infection of H5N1 is a concern due to the global spread of H5N1 that constitutes a pandemic threat. ... Genera Influenzavirus A Influenzavirus B Influenzavirus C Isavirus Thogotovirus The Orthomyxoviridae are a family of RNA viruses which infect vertebrates. ... Influenzavirus A is a genus of a family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. ... In epidemiology, an infection is said to be endemic in a population when that infection is maintained in the population without the need for external inputs. ... Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 nugget The horse (Equus caballus or Equus ferus caballus) is a sizeable ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... H7N7 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ... H3N8 is a subtype of the species avian influenza virus (bird flu virus). ...

The disease has a nearly 100% infection rate in an unvaccinated horse population that has not been previously exposed to the virus. The incubation time is one to five days.

Horses with horse flu can run a fever, have a dry hacking cough, have a runny nose, and become depressed and reluctant to eat or drink for several days but usually recover in 2 to 3 weeks.

"Vaccination schedules generally require a primary course of 2 doses, 3-6 weeks apart, followed by boosters at 6-12 month intervals. It is generally recognised that in many cases such schedules may not maintain protective levels of antibody and more frequent administration is advised in high-risk situations." [1]

See also

• Bird flu
• Dog flu
• Human flu
• Swine flu

Avian influenza (also known as bird flu) is a type of influenza virulent in birds. ... Canine influenza or dog flu refers to varieties of influenzavirus A that affect dogs. ... Human Flu refers to a subset of Orthomyxoviridae that create influenza in humans and are endemic in humans. ... Swine Flu is a form of Type A influenza that is normally virulent only in pigs. ...

References

• health24.com
• Equi Flu Net

External links

• Veterinary Record
• Equine Quarterly Disease Surveillance Reports