Mystery virus kills horses and humans in Australia

By Justine Thompson

General news

25 May 2010 11:51

Scientists in Australia are trying to work out how a horse there became infected with a deadly virus – which can also be fatal to humans.

Hendra virus was discovered in September 1994 when it caused the deaths of 14 horses, and a trainer at a training complex in Hendra, a suburb of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia.
 
Since then there have been eleven outbreaks of the disease – all in Queensland - four of which have spread to humans leading to four fatalities.

The disease is believed to be spread by fruit bats. The bats remain unharmed by the virus, but infected horses and humans usually die. The human deaths have all been of vets or stablehands caring for the infected horses. People cannot catch the disease directly from bats - only when it has been transmitted to horses first.

One horse has already died in this latest outbreak last week. Biological controls are now in place to try to prevent its spread. Infected horses usually suffer breathing and lung problems, as do people, who may also suffer meningitis.