A second horse has tested positive for the Hendra virus, according to authorities in Queensland. Although the area is not considered prone to the deadly Hendra virus, this is the second case occurring in north Queensland near the city of Mackay where a stock horse on a local property fell sick and died from the disease this past week.
Flying foxes/fruit bats - Disease carriers
Although the area is not considered prone to the deadly Hendra virus, this is the second case occurring in north Queensland near the city of Mackay where a stock horse on a local property fell sick and died from the disease.
© 2013 by Justin Welbergen
The property is being quarantined and other horses are being monitored.
Queensland's chief veterinary officer, Rick Symons,"The Hendra virus infection can occur throughout the year and therefore it is important for horse owners to take steps to protect themselves and their animals all year round."
"There are other horses on the property and we'll be working to determine what contact the infected horses had with other animals," Dr Symons said.
Queensland Health will contact people who may have been exposed to the sick animal.
On January 18, Hendra virus was detected for the first time this year in flying foxes in South Australia, when a dead fruit bat tested positive to the infection.
Samples were taken from about 100 of the creatures known as flying foxes that were found dead in the North Adelaide parklands earlier this month.
It is thought the animals died from heat stress during several days of extreme temperatures.
Environment Department chief executive Allan Holmes says while the colony poses a very low risk to humans, people should be careful around the creatures.
"Hendra virus is a disease of horses and humans but humans catch it from horses, not from bats," he said.
"The colony here is several hundred fruit bats compare that with colonies in New South Wales and Queensland where you're talking about tens of thousands.
"The likelihood of that colony interacting with horses is very, very low. However people just need to be aware that is a possibility. As remote as it might be, it is a possibility."
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