Hendra virus rise linked to changing environment
21 August 2009
As a new outbreak of Hendra virus raises concern in Queensland, experts have linked the increasing prevalence of the disease to human environmental impacts.
Queensland’s Primary Industries and Fisheries department has confirmed that horses on a property near Rockhampton have the disease, which can spread to humans.
The affected property has been placed into quarantine after positive tests were returned from a deceased horse. Two other horses died on the property recently and information is now being sought on whether they also had the virus.
At the time of writing, Queensland Health said 5 people who came into contact with the horse had been offered hospital treatment, with 4 offered an experimental 5-day treatment with ribavirin (an antiviral medicine), which has been trialled in animal studies as a possible preventer of the virus.
In a review of emerging and re-emerging viruses, Italian virologists said deforestation might have contributed to the disease becoming more prevalent by forcing fruit bats (flying foxes) to look for new habitats closer to human habitations (Blood Transfus 2009; 7: 167-71).
Professor John Mackenzie, or the Curtin University of Technology and the Biosecurity CRC for Emerging Infectious Disease, agreed.
‘Hendra virus is a natural virus of fruit bats, and very occasionally the virus can be transmitted to horses,’ he said.
‘Humans can then become infected… but this is relatively rare and… the person probably needs to have an open wound or cut for the virus to gain entry.’
Last Reviewed: 21 August 2009
- 1. Zappa A, Amendola A, Romano L, Zanetti A. Emerging and re-emerging viruses in the era of globalisation. Blood Transfus 2009; 7: 167-71
