The Australian Hendra
Last week an outbreak of the contagious Hendra virus was confirmed in an Austrailian horse. The horse has now been confirmed as the 4-year-old Anglo Arabian filly, Jackowah's Regal Princess.
The chestnut mare was due to go to sale along with two other horses at Magic Millions Australian Sporthouse, however all activity and transportation of horses from the J4S Equine Nursery in Central Queensland has ceased as the nursery has been put under quarantine.
Regal Princess was suffering from difficult respiratory symptoms when the nursery manager and veterinary surgeon notified authorities of the animal's death via the Emergency Diseases Hotline on Saturday 8 August. Authorities from the Bio-security Queensland department arrived around midday and are investigating the suspected outbreak.
They have also taken blood samples from all the other horses onsite to test for the Hendra virus and two previous horse deaths in the nursery are now also being investigated; the neighbouring property has been quarantined as a precautionary measure as well.
The quarantine will last up to 28 days since the last confirmed suspected outbreak of the Hendra virus which has been know to spread to humans as well as amongst equine animals.
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August 14th 2009