Hendra virus

Hendra virus is found in flying foxes, who can transmit the virus to horses, who can then pass the virus onto humans. It can cause severe disease in horses and people, and has a high mortality rate.

In horses, there is usually a rapid onset of illness, fever, increased heart rate and rapid deterioration with respiratory and/or neurological (nervous system) signs. Most horses die within 2-3 days of showing the first signs of disease.

In humans, it can cause fever, coughing, sore throat, headache and tiredness. Meningitis or inflammation of the brain can develop, causing headache, high fever and drowsiness, and sometimes convulsions, coma and death.

Infected horses can pass Hendra virus on to other horses or people several days before they show any sign of having contracted the virus. The more severe the disease in the horse, the more virus they shed into their environment. Always employ good biosecurity and personal hygiene practices when handling horses to avoid contracting the virus.

To help your horse avoid Hendra virus, minimise the risk of its exposure to flying foxes and their excretions by keeping horses away from trees that flying foxes roost or feed in. Take care to protect the horse’s feed and water from flying fox excretions too.

The most effective thing you can do to protect your horse is to vaccinate it against the virus. The highly effective vaccine will not affect your horse’s performance but will provide excellent protection from this deadly disease.

If a horse has symptoms that could indicate Hendra, veterinarians must rule out Hendra virus before starting extensive diagnostics or treatment.

The results of this Hendra exclusion testing can take several days to become available.

A fully vaccinated horse will not require Hendra virus exclusion testing and therefore full treatment can start straight away. This can be the difference between life and death in some cases of serious disease, e.g. colic, and ensure the best welfare outcome for the horse.

A 2017 a QRIC commissioned study by Sydney University researchers concluded that Hendra vaccinations had no effect on racing performance.

The ground-breaking study was one of the largest of its kind conducted to investigate the effect of any vaccine on horse racing performance anywhere in the world.

The study used Timeform rating, margin-to-winner, prize money won and winning or placing as measures of racing performance for 1,154 thoroughbreds over 12,066 race starts over a period from three months before to three months after vaccination.

The study showed there was no difference in the racing performance of the horses before or after vaccination.

This study has been published in a reputable scientific journal giving owners, trainers and other racing participants the confidence that Hendra vaccination not only provides reliable protection, but does so without adverse effects on racing performance.

Hendra virus is a category 1 restricted matter, under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

As a horse owner or person who works with horses, you have a legal obligation to take all reasonable and
practical measures to prevent or minimise the effects of a biosecurity risk.

Hendra virus poses a serious biosecurity risk. This means you are legally required to reduce the risk of Hendra virus infection and limit the spread of Hendra virus when working with horses and other possible carriers.

This obligation can be met by instituting suitable biosecurity measures and keeping horse vaccinations up to date.