Thirty people tested for Hendra virus

UP to 30 people will be tested for the potentially deadly Hendra virus after coming into contact with an infected horse that has since died.

Prized Anglo filly, Princess, from J45 Equine Nursery at Cawarral, east of Rockhampton, died on Saturday with tests confirming on Monday that it had the virus.

Queensland Health is telling people at risk of contracting thepotentially fatal Hendra virus after coming into contact with aninfected horse to see their general practitioner for testing.

A spokeswoman said up to 30 people had been identified as being at riskafter coming in close contact with Princess.

She said they would be tested on Tuesday morning but an updatedQueensland Health statement clarified people were being told to betested by their GP.

The statement said people identified were quite dispersed and it was inappropriate to ask them back to the property for testing.

Stud manager Debbie Brown, who was sprayed by blood and mucus from thehorse before it died, says she's appalled Queensland Health was notsending a team of doctors to test people.

Ms Brown said she was originally told a team of five would be sent to test workers but on Monday was told to see a GP.

"I don't want to go into a surgery that contains other people. I don't want my doctor to be exposed," she told ABC Radio.

"What if it is (possible for human-to-human transmission). They don't even know all of the symptoms that humans can get.

"I think they should send up a team to test everyone who has been exposed."

She said she would reluctantly see a GP on Tuesday morning.

Biosecurity Queensland is testing about 30 horses on the property.

About 30 horses were under quarantine at the stud which would remainisolated for 28 days from the last confirmed case of Hendra.

The virus is a serious but rare disease which is believed to be transferred from bats to horses.

Horses can pass on the virus to humans but health authorities say there is no record of human-to-human transmission.

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