Federal District (DF) suspects outbreak of equine influenza.
Approximately 600 horses may be infected with the disease; the illness does not pose a risk to humans; Granja do Torto is under quarantine.
Agência Brasil - The Agricultural Defense Agency of the Federal District suspects that approximately 600 horses belonging to local breeders are infected with equine influenza. The disease presents the same symptoms as human influenza, such as fever, cough, nasal discharge, and lethargy (fatigue). The greatest impact is on animal performance, causing economic losses to the owner.
According to Bernardo Lafetá, manager of Animal Health at the Department of Agriculture, the disease does not pose a risk to humans. The Federal District has not reported any cases of the disease for over ten years.
The suspected case of influenza was detected in approximately one hundred horses living at Granja do Torto. The animals presented symptoms of the infection days after the Brasília Agricultural Fair, held in April.
"Laboratory tests can only be performed within a specific period of symptomatic manifestation. So far, we have collected blood from one of the animals on the farm. If the disease is confirmed, it is certain that the other animals that had contact with the animal will also have contracted the flu," Lafetá explained.
Because the disease is easily transmitted, the Granja do Torto farm was closed down, and all animals that were at the event were identified and prohibited from traveling within the Federal District and other states.
"The Department of Agriculture has stopped issuing Animal Transit Permits (GTA), a document that grants free passage to production animals, to all properties that participated in the event in April. The measure was taken to prevent the spread of infection," the manager pointed out.
The virus that causes the disease is mutagenic, so even vaccinated animals are at risk of being infected with equine influenza. An infected horse is a potential transmitter for up to 28 days after the onset of the first symptoms.
If the disease is diagnosed, the animals will be given complete rest, nutritious food, and clean water. In more severe cases, they will also receive medication.
According to the animal health manager, the infected animals do not need to be euthanized. "Once the disease is identified, they will be treated, and the risk of death from the flu is almost zero. The main problem the infection can cause is reduced productivity of the animals [for work]," he stated.
Equine influenza is a notifiable disease, so breeders who observe symptoms in their animals must notify the Department of Agriculture immediately. To do so, simply call the Directorate of Agricultural Defense and Surveillance of the Federal District at (61) 3340–3862, or visit the Grana do Torto unit or one of the operational bases located in the satellite cities of Brazlândia, Gama, Planaltina, Sobradinho and Planaltina, as well as the Department of Agriculture headquarters itself.