Equine influenza is highly contagious and causes significant respiratory welfare harm. Vaccination programs protect individual horses and reduce outbreak spread through herd immunity.
Equine influenza causes acute suffering through high fever, productive cough, and the systemic effects of viral infection. Horses with influenza require weeks of rest for full respiratory recovery - premature return to work after incomplete recovery risks complications including exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage and long-term respiratory compromise. Welfare in influenza management requires adequate rest duration, appropriate supportive care including anti-inflammatory medication for fever management, and isolation protocols that prevent spread within facilities. Vaccination reduces the probability and severity of infection, representing a welfare investment that prevents illness episodes rather than managing them after they occur.