Hendra claims first human death

The Hendra outbreak at the J4S Equine nursery in Queensland, Australia has finally claimed its first human victim. Dr Alister Rodgers, who treated the first foal to be contaminated with the disease and has since been in a coma, passed away on September 2 August almost a month since the confirmed outbreak.

Rodgers, who worked at Rockhampton Veterinary Clinic, came into direct contact with the infected foal's blood and has spent the last week in intensive care. He is the fourth person to die form the Hendra virus since its discovery in 1997 and is the second vet form Queensland to contract the virus.

3 other stud workers for the Cawarral nursery have also been taken to Princess Alexandria Hospital for observation and the owner was also asked to attend hospital for monitoring, however no confirmations of other human contractions of the Hendra virus have been released.

Over 7 people have contracted the virus form equine animals and scientists no relatively little about why its caused or how to treat it, however they have identified that bats are the may cause of the disease spreading.

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September 04^th 2009

• Horse ploughs headlong into windscreen
• RSPCA rescues horse from slurry
• Fifth human case of Hendra virus
• Hendra virus claims first human victim
• Secondary Hendra horse results negative
• Toytown back on form
• Horse rustling affects Olympic hopeful.
• The Australian Hendra
• Domestication debate of the horse
• Beware the killer seaweed
• The life-size Barbie horsebox
• Maktoum to watch from the sidelines
• Taming of the shrewd Zebra