The Australian Horse Industry Council says a levy on horse owners could be considered after lyssavirus also known as Hendra virus has been confirmed in a horse for the first time this year.
Paying for horse disease research
The Australian Horse Industry Council says a levy on horse owners for disease research could be considered after lyssavirus also known as Hendra virus has been confirmed in another horse.
An equestrian centre near Allora in southern Queensland is under quarantine after a horse had to be put down on Saturday, when it tested positive for the bat borne disease.
Another horse with similar symptoms was euthanized on the same property a fortnight ago. However, Biosecurity Queensland says that horse was disposed of before it could be tested.
Vets are now testing the 20 other horses on the property.
Lyssavirus is carried by bats and flying foxes and is known to have killed three people in the past.
The acting chairwoman of the Australian Horse Industry Council, Joy Poole, says the money raised by a levy may be needed for more research into horse diseases.
"We're all waiting on more professional advice and that will need a little bit of research to go ahead to just see if this is another major threat or is it something that the disease actually terminates in the horse."