Wild burros in the Inland Empire of California are dying from a deadly equine influenza that has killed a number of burros since mid June. The burros that roam an area in the mountains and hills east of Riverside appear to be dropping dead in spite of veterinarians efforts to save them.
Wild burro in desert setting
Equine influenza has a nearly 100% infection rate in unvaccinated equines and has a relatively short incubation period which makes treatment difficult especially when burros are roaming on open land.
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Equine influenza is a major disease caused by a virus. Present in North America, Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia, equine influenza produces severe symptoms, including fever, a dry hacking cough, nasal and eye discharges, swollen lymph nodes under the jaw, depression, lethargy, and loss of appetite.
Equine influenza is caused by a type-A Orthomyxovirus. Two major strains are known to cause the disease. These viruses are from the same group of viruses that causes flu in humans. The disease has a nearly 100% infection rate in unvaccinated equines and has a relatively short incubation period of one to three days which makes treatment difficult especially when burros are roaming on open land.
Donkeyland, a sanctuary for injured burros, has attempted to get the sick burros to equine veterinarians for treatment, but efforts are often futile with the burros dying while being transported or dying soon after arrival at the treatment center.
Several dead burros have been sent to state laboratories for necropsies in hopes of discovering why the burros are so susceptible to the equine influenza that usually doesn't affect the animals until the cooler fall season. The wild burros are unvaccinated and one theory is that the disease may have started as a result of burros coming in contact with domesticated horses that have been carrying the virus.
Another factor may be the water that has been put out for the burros during the dry hot weather. The water is often neglected and not changed out frequently so may have become contaminated.
Veterinarians are hoping to begin vaccinating many of the burros to establish a form of herd immunity. Although vaccinated animals may develop cases of equine influenza, the cases are usually mild and the animals recover from the disease.