Racing Queensland puts thoroughbred industry on alert as new Hendra virus case confirmed
A horse in southeast Queensland has died after testing positive to the virus, Biosecurity Queensland officials confirmed on Sunday.
Queensland Health is working to manage the health of people who came into contact with the horse given the virus can spread to humans and be fatal.
In this new case, the horse was not vaccinated against Hendra virus.
'Racing Queensland recommends vaccination and disseminates information to its industry participants on prevention and appropriate management of any ill horses,' an RQ spokesman said.
'RQ understands the horse involved in this instance is not a racehorse.'
There is no human vaccine for Hendra virus, although it is rare for humans to contract the deadly disease.
'While the virus can spread from horses to people, it is rare,' Queensland chief health officer Dr Heidi Carroll said.
'People assessed as having a high level of exposure to the infected horse will undergo prioritised testing.'
The last time Henry virus was discovered in Queensland was in Mackay in 2022.
Biosecurity Queensland said an unvaccinated horse tested positive for the virus last Friday and its 'condition rapidly deteriorated'.
Hendra virus can be transmitted from flying fox to horse, and from horse to human.
It was first discovered in 1994 when it swept through racing stables in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra, killing a trainer and 13 horses.
Since then there have been 66 known outbreaks across Australia, with four people and 90 horses dying from the deadly virus.
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