The horse was imported from New England into Washington County, Rhode Island, on Oct. 24 and kept at a privately owned stable with the owner’s three other horses. | Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The Rhode Island state veterinarian has confirmed a weanling Shire colt with both equine influenza (EI) and equine herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4). The horse is kept at a privately owned stable with the owner’s three other horses. The horse’s clinical signs included coughing, dullness, fever, and nasal discharge; the other horses have shown no clinical signs, and all four are maintained as a closed herd. No quarantine was issued.

About Equine Influenza

Equine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease that affects horses, ponies, and other equids, such as donkeys, mules, and zebras. The virus that causes it is spread via saliva and respiratory secretions from infected horses. Horses are commonly exposed via horse-to-horse contact; humans that pick up the virus on their hands, shoes, or clothes; tack, buckets, or other equipment; and aerosol transmission from coughing and sneezing.

Clinical signs of equine influenza infection can include a high fever (up to 106°F); a dry, hacking cough; depression; weakness; anorexia; serous (watery) nasal discharge; and slightly enlarged lymph nodes. Consider monitoring your horse’s health at shows by taking his temperature daily, which can help you pick up on signs of infection early and take appropriate measures to reduce disease spread