More equine properties quarantined after Hendra scare

The Hendra virus has been threatening equine stables across Queensland, Australia since the J4S nursery near Brisbane went under quarantine after their Arabian foal was diagnosed with the disease.

Shortly following the death of the latest Hendra human victim, veterinary surgeon Alistair Rodgers, another four properties across Queensland have also been placed under investigation conditions.

Many experts worry that inadequate funding has not been available to researchers of the Hendra virus as very little is now about the disease. Many claim that a vaccine for the Hendra virus could be developed within two years if enough funding was available for research.

Scientists have long suspected that the equine disease is spread through fruit bats and the Biosecurity office in Queensland have been advising horse breeders and owners to cover all food stuffs and to observe the activity of the nocturnal creatures.

A property in Bowen has also been placed under quarantine yesterday Wednesday 9 September with another 3 farms following suit. In total over 18 horse are under watch for symptoms of the virus and members of the community are still very concerned as 4 stud workers from the J4S nursery are still being monitored at the Princess Alexandria hospital in Brisbane.

Insure My Horse provides horse insurance for all equine owners across the UK making sure that every need form saddle to horsebox is catered for.

September 14^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