Reports from international veterinary and health organizations such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) or World Health Organization (WHO)

H5N1 Bird Flu Infects Horses Without Symptoms, Potentially Spreading Undetected

Dec 12, 2024, 04:02 PM

Recent research has raised concerns about the spread of avian influenza, with new findings indicating that the H5N1 virus can infect horses without causing any symptoms. This development suggests that the virus, widely seen as a potential cause of the next global health crisis, could be spreading undetected among equine populations. Horses, which live in close proximity to humans, could serve as a mixing bowl for new strains of flu if simultaneously infected with H5N1 and the equine flu virus, H3N8. This could lead to rapid evolution of the virus, increasing the probability of human infection. The study, conducted by scientists at the University of Glasgow, found antibodies to the virus in blood samples from horses in Mongolia, suggesting that horses worldwide could be vulnerable in areas where bird flu is present. This situation underscores the need for vigilant monitoring to detect infections rapidly and prevent the virus from establishing itself in horses, potentially leading to human transmission.