Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
jDATA Pty (Ltd), Hermanus, South Africa.
Equine Vet J. 2023 Jan;55(1):153-164. doi: 10.1111/evj.13874. Epub 2022 Aug 31.
During 2019, an epidemic of equine influenza (EI) occurred in Europe.
To describe the epidemiology of the 2019 EI epidemic within Great Britain (GB).
Retrospective descriptive study of laboratory confirmed EI cases.
Epidemiological data were obtained from veterinary surgeons referring samples for EI virus testing. Where available, data on confirmed cases and their wider resident population on EI-infected premises were collated and described. On a national level, spatial and temporal representations, consisting of choropleth maps and epidemic curves, described the spread of EI. EI-infected premises-level factors associated with the first of two epidemic phases were investigated using ordinary logistic regression analysis.
There were 412 confirmed cases and 234 EI-infected premises, with the first of two epidemic phases occurring between January and April, followed by a second phase through to August. The median age of confirmed cases was 5 years and Sports horses (24%) and Cobs (16%) made up the highest proportions by general horse type and breed. Among confirmed cases 72% were unvaccinated and 18% were vaccinated against EI. New horses arriving within 2 weeks of a confirmed case were reported by 42% of EI-infected premises. Investigation of EI-infected premises biosecurity measures indicated that 23% quarantined new arrivals, 37% had isolation facilities and 57% of resident horses were vaccinated. EI-infected premises were more likely in the first than second epidemic phase to be classified as professional, have a vaccinated confirmed case and EI confirmed in a newly arrived animal.
Data were collected at a single time point for each EI-infected premises with no follow ups performed.
During 2019, EI-infected premises generally had low levels of population vaccine coverage and implemented limited preventive biosecurity measures, particularly linked to horse movements. Without substantial improvements in infectious disease prevention and control, the GB equine population remains at risk of future EI epidemics.
2019 年，欧洲发生了一场马流感（EI）疫情。
描述英国（GB）内 2019 年 EI 疫情的流行病学情况。
对实验室确诊的 EI 病例进行回顾性描述性研究。
从兽医那里获得了流行病学数据，兽医们将 EI 病毒检测样本送检。在有数据的情况下，收集并描述了确诊病例及其所在 EI 感染场所更广泛的居民人口的数据。在国家层面上，使用普通逻辑回归分析调查了与两个疫情阶段中的第一个阶段相关的 EI 感染场所因素。
共有 412 例确诊病例和 234 个 EI 感染场所，两个疫情阶段中的第一个阶段发生在 1 月至 4 月，随后是 8 月的第二个阶段。确诊病例的中位年龄为 5 岁，运动马（24%）和考布斯马（16%）是按一般马种和品种划分的比例最高的品种。在确诊病例中，72%未接种疫苗，18%接种了 EI 疫苗。42%的 EI 感染场所报告称，新到的马匹在确诊病例后 2 周内到达。对 EI 感染场所生物安全措施的调查表明，23%对新到的马匹进行了隔离，37%有隔离设施，57%的居民马匹接种了疫苗。与第二阶段相比，在第一阶段 EI 感染场所更有可能被归类为专业型，有确诊病例接种疫苗，以及新到的动物中确诊 EI 病例。
对每个 EI 感染场所仅在一个时间点收集数据，没有进行后续跟踪。
在 2019 年，EI 感染场所的人群疫苗覆盖率普遍较低，实施的预防生物安全措施有限，特别是与马匹运动有关的措施。如果在传染病预防和控制方面没有实质性的改进，英国的马匹群体仍将面临未来 EI 疫情的风险。
