About 50 people attended an information session at Redlynch State School on Friday night, where experts from Queensland Biosecurity, Queensland Health and Workplace Health and Safety fielded a range of questions from concerned horse owners about Hendra virus and the threat to local horses and competitors.
Flying foxes (bats) - carriers of Hendra virus
The Redlynch Equestrian Association in Australia remains in lockdown after the deadly Hendra virus claimed the life of a four-year-old gelding.
Hendra virus (formerly called equine morbillivirus) is a member of the family Paramyxoviridae. The virus was first isolated in 1994 from specimens obtained during an outbreak of respiratory and neurologic disease in horses and humans in Hendra, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia.
The Redlynch Equestrian Association in Australia remains in lockdown after the deadly Hendra virus claimed the life of a four-year-old gelding on July 27.
While Biosecurity Queensland is recommending events and competitions go ahead as usual, locals including parents of competitors are concerned about the threat of the virus spreading.
Biosecurity Queensland veterinarian Fiona Thompson said samples from local flying fox colonies had been collected in an attempt to isolate the virus. Infrared sensors are also being used to capture the movements of the flying foxes.
Ms Thompson said final testing was currently under way for a vaccine to the virus, which could be released later this year before being commercially available in 2013.
Cairns public health medical officer Dr Richard Gair played down concerns about humans contracting the virus. He said only seven humans have been diagnosed with Hendra virus since the disease was identified.