Ahmedabad: An anxious animal husbandry department has been on its toes ever since suspected equine flu struck city police stables and claimed four horses. The forest department is concerned as Gujarat's pride, the endangered Wild Ass in Rann of Kutch, is vulnerable to the virus. Currently, the number in Gujarat is around 3,900. The virus attacks species belonging to the Equus genus, which includes the Wild Ass. The state has close to 13,000 equine species. The department expects National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) to confirm the presence of the virus soon. Forest officials are presently engaged in the census of the Wild Ass in the Little Rann of Kutch. The Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary there is spread over 4,954 sq km, making it one of the largest sanctuaries in the country The flu is airborne and proximity to domesticated donkeys in areas near the sanctuary inhabited by people makes the Wild Ass susceptible to pick up the infection. Officials are worried as the virus normally strikes between October and December. It seems to have developed a resistance to high temperatures and has survived the heat wave in the state. "It's unusual to find the virus active during summer. It travels for two to three km in the air before infecting an animal, cross-border trade of horses and donkeys can spread the disease," says a senior official of the animal husbandry department. An official notification will be issued sealing all state borders to prevent intra or inter-state movement or trading of horses, donkeys and other equine creatures if the report confirms the virus, he adds. "We have not received an official confirmation on the flu from the state government. Measures will be taken to prevent any untoward incidents," says principal chief conservator of forest, Pradeep Khanna.