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Rockhampton

Hendra virus outbreak on Rocky property

10th August 2009

A HORSE that died on a property at Cawarral, 20 km east of Rockhampton, had Hendra Virus, Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin says.

The prized prized Anglo filly from J45 Equine Nursery died on Saturday after bleeding from the nose and mouth.

Mr Mulherin on Monday confirmed tests for Hendra virus were positive.

The Department of Primary Industries has quarantined the property and a neighbouring property.

Two other horses have died in the past two weeks.

The property manager and a local vet called the Biosecurity Queensland hotline when the third horse died on Saturday, and staff responded quickly, taking a sample from the animal.

But John Brady, co-owner of the nursery, said there was no link between the filly’s death and the two other horses.

“One died of old age and the other died of a snake bite,” Mr Brady said.

He said the nursery manager had been sprayed by fluid from the horse.

Mr Brady said also on that property were foals and a champion stallion, which he fears may have to be put down.

He said a vet saw the filly the first day it showed signs of an illness on Thursday.

By Friday it was gravely ill and a vet prescribed antibiotics but the following day it died.

A Hendra outbreak in August last year killed Brisbane vet Ben Cunneen, the first person to die of the disease in 10 years.

First identified in Brisbane in 1994, Hendra virus spreads from flying foxes.

Of the 11 equine outbreaks in Australia, four have led to human infection, with three of the six known human cases being fatal.
 
© AAP

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