15/06/2026
𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧: 𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗟𝗨𝗘𝗡𝗭𝗔 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗡𝗘 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 ⚠🦠🐴
The Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) service have just reported an outbreak of equine influenza (flu) in 3 unvaccinated horses on a premises in Aberdeenshire, with other horses also affected by signs, but not yet tested. Clinical signs included: cough, nasal discharge, fever, inappetence and lethargy. Positive diagnoses were confirmed on 12 June 2026 by qPCR on nasopharyngeal swabs. One case has also been reported in Fife (also an unvaccinated horse), with the diagnosis confirmed on 11 June 2026.
We strongly advise booking a vaccination for any horse which has not had a booster in the past 6 months (i.e. bring their next booster forwards), and restarting any lapsed/unvaccinated horses. Vaccinated horses can still pick up the virus, but generally are less severely affected and less likely to spread it to other horses. Immunity is highest within 6 months after the last vaccination.
Remember - flu can travel several km in the air in favourable conditions, so it can reach and affect any horse, whether they travel and are in contact with other horses or not. It's a nasty illness, so worth preventing. Be aware, local competition centres/yards with arena hires, may soon request proof of vaccination within the past 6 months, if they aren't already. Horses also cannot be competed under FEI/BD/BS/BE/BRC/PC/BHA/Endurance GB rules within 7 days after vaccination, so ensure to be organised with timings.
Strangles vaccines can be given at the same time or separately to flu vaccines.
This link provides additional useful information for horse owners, including advice on spotting signs of flu and managing flu outbreak situations on yard: https://bit.ly/4cEm8vD
𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝟬𝟭𝟮𝟮𝟰 𝟳𝟰𝟬𝟳𝟬𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.
