The protection afforded by equine influenza vaccinations is not as straightforward as we might think, suggests a special focus section on equine influenza (EIV) published this month in the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ).

The editorial includes scientific, surveillance, animal health industry, and regulatory viewpoints that raise questions over the role of vaccination in both limiting the spread of infection and reducing the severity of clinical signs. Researchers also discuss the importance of vaccine strain and composition. The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), meanwhile, is working with key parties to ensure that the United Kingdom’s horses are protected from EIV in the most effective ways possible.

Equine influenza is a highly contagious viral disease. It is rarely fatal, usually resolving within two to three weeks. It has the potential to be highly disruptive to training and competition schedules.

In his EVJ article, Graeme Cooke, MA, VetMB, MRCVS, Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) veterinary director, expalins, “protection against influenza depends on good management combined with a good vaccination programme using efficacious vaccine products, with as much of the equine population as possible being vaccinated. Limiting the effect of outbreaks also depends on having good organised surveillance, or at least taking samples quickly to obtain an early diagnosis. Very important for prevention is the routine application in stables of simple biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of this and other diseases or at least to reduce their onward transmission. Biosecurity should be the first piece of advice that clinicians give to their clients about influenza prevention