SYDNEY, Australia: An outbreak of equine influenza has plunged the country's multi-billion dollar horse racing industry into turmoil. A nationwide cancellation of all horse meets, events, and transfers of thoroughbreds and pet horses has been declared in an effort to stop the virus from spreading.

While the highly-contagious horse flu already exists in the US, the outbreak is particularly damaging in Australia as the virus was unknown in the country previously, with Australian horses possessing no immunity or resistance to the virus. The horse flu outbreak has already caused serious repercussions in the Australian economy, with losses hitting $100 million in only a few days, and set to hit the billions.

Things are so serious that the Melbourne Cup, Australia's biggest and most-lucrative race (known as 'the race that stops the nation') is facing the prospect of being cancelled or postponed; an unheard-of propostion only days earlier. Bookmakers have already frozen all betting on the Cup, losing a major source of income.

The breeding season starting on September 1 is also set to halt as some of the country's most valuable stallions are in quarantine from the highly-infectious equine flu.

"If this quarantine lasts for a period longer than 30 days, there would be a serious effect on next year's foal crop," Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) President John Messara told The Australian.

Authorities suspect that the latest outbreak of horse influenza may have started in Japan, which just weeks earlier had been hit by a much larger outbreak, with almost 100 horses testing positive. As Japanese horses regularly visit Australia to compete and stand as stud animals, it is suspected that they may have carried the disease to Australia.

While this virulent disease is not considered fatal, equine flu makes a horse sick for two to three weeks. Equine influenza is very similar to that affecting humans. As a very common upper respiratory disease, it often leads to fever. After contracting equine flu, a horse will seem depressed or lethargic, reluctant to eat or drink. A dry and hacking cough also appears and some nasal discharge may be sighted.

To determine if a horse is infected, nasal swabs are taken. Research shows that there are two strains of equine influenza virus: the American and the Eurasian. While the former can be found all over the world, the latter is has never been found in the United States.

Just as with human flu, there is no actual cure for equine flu, except proper nursing care and good nutrition. If secondary infections, such as pneumonia develop, antibiotic treatments may be necessary.

Since horse influenza is highly contagious and can be spread through coughing and sneezing, it is best to keep infected equines in quarantine. While humans cannot catch the horse flu virus, they can transmit the disease to other horses. Human hands, clothing, or any other object that have been exposed to a sick horse can be a carrier of the virus. However the virus is not hardy and can be killed by proper washing and disinfecting of equine equipment, changing clothes, washing hands, or better yet, taking a shower after visiting an infected horse.

In the United States, equine flu outbreaks are kept to a minimum by keeping all horses in quarantine once they arrive the country. Only after the equines have passed a series of tests and have proven not to be carrying any illnesses will they be allowed to live in barns and stables. However, nothing much could be done if the virus is in the air.

Vaccinations are also not a total answer. Although giving equines regular vaccinations may prevent the horse from feeling the symptoms of the virus, it is still possible for horses to catch the horse influenza if they are exposed to other infected horses.