QLD Vet Contracts Hendra

The AHIC have advised that one of the veterinarians that was exposed to a Hendra (HeV) positive horse has now been diagnosed as positive to HeV, and has been transported to Brisbane in an induced coma this afternoon.

This emphasises again just how dangerous HeV is and that everybody who has horses that might come into contact with areas frequented by flying foxes all over Australia needs to take appropriate precautions to prevent infection of humans and other horses. All flying fox populations are potentially infected with HeV, horses are an amplifying host, 70 - 80% of horses that become infected will die and the remainder are destroyed to prevent OH&S issues in people, 50% of people who become infected with HeV are at a grave risk of dying from the infection. {sidebar id=3}Though HeV infection outside flying foxes is unusual, it appears to be becoming more frequent in recent years. No matter where you are in Australia it is imperative that you keep your horses away from fruit eating bats. The latest information about Hendra Virus is available at DPI QLD.