Hendra virus is a rare disease that can be passed from an infected horse to a human. This type of illness is called a zoonotic disease. The cases reported in Australia have all been in people who had close contact with infected horses. Without prompt medical treatment, the complications of Hendra virus can be fatal. There is no cure, human vaccine or specific medical treatment for Hendra virus. A vaccine for horses has been available since 2012.
The best defence is avoiding contact with an infected horse. If one of your horses gets sick, seek immediate advice from your veterinarian as to whether this could be Hendra virus and see your doctor. Hendra virus is a different disease to equine flu. Equine flu is a highly contagious viral disease that infects horses, but not people.
The virus was discovered in 1994 after a Queensland horse trainer and 14 of his horses died. One stable hand was also infected, but recovered. The virus was named Hendra virus after the Brisbane suburb where it first occurred. In 1995, a Mackay farmer and horse breeder was the second recorded death and in 2008, a vet became the third person to die after catching the infection from horses in Queensland. Four people have died in Australia to date.
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