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Thursday, 17 December 2009

The NSW Department of Industry and Investment (Primary Industries) believes that it is important for people who come in contact with horses to be aware of the potential risks posed to them by Hendra virus. This will enable them to assess the risk that contact with horses poses to them, in their own situation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE HORSE INDUSTRY: HENDRA VIRUS 

It is important that all sectors of the horse industry understand the risks posed by Hendra virus. Hendra virus is carried by fruit bats, and may cause fever, respiratory and/or nervous illness when it infects horses. While horses rarely become infected, infected horses may infect humans, and the disease has severe consequences. It is usually fatal in horses, and four of the seven people known to have become infected have died, despite intensive therapy in hospital.

Minimise the risk to yourself and your horse by:

• preventing horses from eating or drinking feed or water that may be contaminated by body fluids from fruit bats roosting, feeding or flying overhead and
• knowing the signs of Hendra and what to do if you suspect infection.

The following links provide information on Hendra virus that will assist you to understand the disease and how to minimise the risk of infection. I&I NSW strongly recommends that you pass this information on to your members and industry contacts and/or staff who may handle horses.

A Primefact on Hendra virus is available on the NSW DPI website at

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock

/horses/health/general/hendra-virus

CSIRO, the organisation responsible for identifying the virus has published summary information at

http://www.csiro.au/science/Hendra-Virus.html

The Queensland Government Primary Industries and Fisheries website provides comprehensive information on Hendra virus

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/27_2900_ENA_HTML.htm

What is Hendra virus? (includes reducing the risk to horses)

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_15093_ENA_HTML.htm

Hendra virus overview http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_

11127_ENA_HTML.htm

Flying foxes and Hendra virus http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/4790_

15094_ENA_HTML.htm

Signs of infection in humans

http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/InfectionsandParasites

/ViralInfections/

hendraVirusInfection_fs.asp 

A detailed article from the Australian Biosecurity CRC

http://www1.abcrc.org.au/uploads/8aee9ac0-1355-4339-b5b6-5772a4ee6cf7/

 docs/HeV_Review_updated170909.pdf

This list is to assist you to find information on Hendra virus. Additional information may also be found at other sites.

For further information or if you suspect a horse may be infected with Hendra virus please contact:

• your private veterinary practitioner, or
• your local Livestock Health and Pest Authority at http://www.lhpa.org.au/contact or
• the Primary Industries division of Industry and Investment NSW at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/
• aboutus/about/contact
• If one of the above cannot be contacted and the matter is urgent, please call the

Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888

For further information or assistance relating to human health please contact:

• your local doctor or nearest Public Health Unit at
• http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/Infectious/phus.asp