Health authorities and veterinarians are worried this winter could bring more cases of Hendra Virus

Updated July 09, 2013 15:54:00

Health authorities and veterinarians are worried this winter could bring more cases of Hendra Virus than ever before. In the last month, five horses in Queensland and New South Wales have contracted the virus. One veterinarian is worried about the spread of the virus to humans.

Source: The World Today | Duration: 3min 5sec

Topics: hendra-virus-infection, animals, livestock-welfare, mammals, australia


ELEANOR HALL: Health authorities are warning that this winter could bring more cases of Hendra virus.

In the last month, five horses have contracted the virus despite the availability of a vaccine.

One vet says this is unacceptable and that he's worried about the virus spreading to humans.

Skye Manson prepared this report.

SKYE MANSON: Yesterday, near Kempsey on the New South Wales mid-north coast, a team from the New South Wales Health Unit donned their protective overalls and glasses.

They were there to inspect people who'd been in contact with a horse that died this week from Hendra virus.

While no one is showing any signs of being infected this time, there is growing concern that this year more humans could contract the potentially fatal Hendra virus.

Dr Warwick Vale is the president of the Australian Equine Veterinary Association. He's worried about the coming season.

WARWICK VALE: We seem to have clusters of outbreaks in rapid succession. We're seeing a greater spread and a greater frequency over a shorter period of time.

My personal experience has been terrible. I've had colleagues that have been exposed to this virus and died; I've seen the impact that it's had on their families and their businesses. I've seen lives essentially destroyed by this virus. This is a very, very nasty virus if you catch it, and the stress that that puts on the veterinarians' families and the owner's family about "am I exposed? Am I infected? When am I going to be given the all-clear?" - that's an intolerable stress to have to live with, and I've seen that in real life. I've seen the effect that it's had on people.

SKYE MANSON: While it's not mandatory for horse owners to vaccinate against the virus, Dr Vale says if you've got access to something that can prevent it, then you should be using it.

WARWICK VALE: In my mind it's completely clear - there should be no reason for any more cases of Hendra virus outbreaks and incidence of this disease if every horse is vaccinated.

Now practically, that may not be possible - there are many reasons why some horses may not get vaccinated. I don't know if they're good reasons, but I know if the industry and the public's aim and the Government's aim is to not have any more outbreaks of Hendra virus disease, then vaccination is simply the best way to achieve that.

SKYE MANSON: New South Wales Health says seven people have been infected with Hendra and five have died since it was first discovered in Queensland in 1994.

No humans are under surveillance at this stage, but Dr Vicky Sheppard says there are signs this could be a bad season.

VICKY SHEPPARD: Yeah, this is a signal to us that the Hendra virus is quite active in the bat colonies at the moment, at least in that area and probably elsewhere.

Certainly from the New South Wales perspective, it's unusual to see this clustering so close in time and location, and having three cases in quick succession like this is unusual.

ELEANOR HALL: That's Dr Vicky Sheppard, from the New South Wales Department of Health, ending that report by Skye Manson.