Over 5,500 cases of horse flu have been reported in China’s Xinjiang province, which borders Mongolia.

This is the first outbreak of equine influenza in 13 years in China and has put some 130,000 Chinese horses at risk.

However, Chinese officials have been quick to add that this strain of the flu, called H3N8, is rarely fatal for animals or dangerous to people.

Chinese officials have quarantined infected horses and restricted the movement of other horses in the province. Officials have said that horses at risk of infection are in the counties of Altay, Burqin, Fuhai, Fuyun, Habahe, Jemnay and Qinghe.

A decision was made in 2005 to hold equestrian events for the upcoming Beijing Olympics in Hong Kong. The reason given for this move was to protect horses from equine diseases and because Hong Kong has more experience with equine sports.
Besides Mongolia, China’s Xinjiang province also borders Kazakhstan and Russia.

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