Farmers are calling for a cull of flying foxes after an outbreak of the Hendra virus which has infected 8 properties in NSW and Queensland. 3 horses from a central Queensland horse stud have already fallen victim to the Hendra virus.
The Hendra virus does not appear to be very contagious, humans and horses are susceptible to the disease. The Hendra virus in Australia is transmitted by the flying fox. It is not clear how horses become infected, but this may occur by them eating food contaminated by bat feces. The Hendra virus became well known in September 1994, after a prominent Queensland horse trainer Mr Vic Rail, his stable hand, and most of his horses fell ill to the Hendra virus. Within several days, the trainer and 14 horses were dead.
Three horses including the Hendra-infected filly that died on Saturday were destined for the prestigious Magic Millions sale on the Gold Coast this weekend, however fortunately the virus was detected before the horses were transported. If the horses had of arrived to the sale, they could of unknowingly infected 100’s of horses which would of then be transported across Australia and possibly overseas, causing an outbreak of infection similar to the EI (Equine Influenza) disaster in late 2007.
There is no vaccine against Hendra virus. The most important means of preventing Hendra virus infection is to avoid animals that are known to be infected. Symptoms in humans have included; an influenza-like illness, which can progress to pneumonia; or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) type symptoms i.e. headache, high fever, and drowsiness, which can progress to convulsions or coma. Horses develop an acute respiratory or neurological syndrome quickly leading to death in most cases. There is no vaccine to the virus, treatment infected with Hendra virus may need to be admitted to hospital for supportive care such as intravenous therapy and mechanical ventilation.
Considering the potential for this virus to become out of control, the Queensland Government currently has a ban on the shooting of the protected species. Debbie Brown, managing director of the J4S nursery said she believed it the flying foxes that had infected the horses, however rejects calls to have the species culled, “should we wipe out a species because of six cases of the Hendra virus in humans?” she said.
John Brady, the owner of the infected horse stud, said he was “absolutely bloody disgusted” when health authorities refused to test himself and two other staff members for the virus, which not only killed Vic Rail in 2004 but also a Brisbane vet in May last year. He said it wasn’t until independent MP Peter Wellington had pushed the health department for action that he was tested. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh blamed a “breakdown in communications” for the poor treatment of Mr Brady and his staff, who were finally visited by Rockhampton hospital staff yesterday afternoon. The horse handles face an agonising few weeks wait to discover if they are infected with the virus or not.
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