The Australian press has reported yet another case of a horse testing positive for the lethal Hendra virus. The horse, named Winnie is from the same Cawarral horse nursery where the outbreak of the virus has already hospitalised four people and killed two horses.
Queensland’s acting Chief Veterinary Office Dr Rick Symons confirmed that due to the positive test result meant that the horse would be put down. Although horses can have the Hendra virus in their systems and recover, the fact that it could remain dormant meant it would present a continuing risk to human and horse’s health.
Meanwhile a Rockhampton vet remains on life support after contacting the disease, and three stud works exposed to the virus at the property remain in hospital for observation.
The Hendra virus is so named after the strain of the Heniparivirus was discovered as a horse training complex in Hendra, a suburd of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia in September 1994. The original outbreak started after a mare who was stabled with 23 other horses fell ill and died with 19 of those horses catching the virus and 13 horses also dying along with the trainer.
Surveys following both the Hendra outbreak along with one some 1,000km away in Mackay in August of the same year but diagnosed retrospectively, suggested the source of the infection to be wild bats; the horses possible having had the virus passed on via bat urine or birthing fluids. The pattern and timings of the nine subsequent outbreaks, including the most recent in Cawarral, again coincide with the fruit bat birthing season. Scientists are currently carrying out studies on local bat colonies to determine if they carry the virus.
The virus originally called Equine Morbillivirus, appears not to transmit directly from bats to humans; but rather via the horse.
Until such time as the virus appears to have been brought under control and no longer poses a threat the property will remain under quarantine.
For vets or anyone concerned with handling an animal which is suspected of having the Hendra virus guidelines have been issued and are available through this website.
We will keep you updated with any news at it develops.
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