Can Your Horse Make You Sick?

Can you catch sickness or diseases from horses? The answer is yes, there is a very small risk that you could catch an illness from your horse . Equine specialists are encouraging those who handle horses to wash their hands and grooming tools frequently. The staph bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus) lives in the nasal passages, skin, and intestines of horses. Zoonotic Diseases such as MRSA can be passed back and forth between humans and horses. According to an article posted on The Horse.com, Good Hygiene Blocks Horse-Human MRSA Transmission, equine MRSA is relatively rare and good hygiene will help to protect both horse and handler.

More About Horse Diseases

• Colic FAQs
• EI, Equine Influenza or Flu in Horses