Hendra virus - safety alert for the horse industry

Important information for the horse industry

All sectors of the horse industry must understand the risks posed by Hendra virus.

Hendra virus is carried by fruit bats, and may cause fever, respiratory illness or nervous illness when it infects horses.

While horses rarely become infected, infected horses may infect humans, and the disease has severe consequences. It is usually fatal in horses, and four of the seven people known to have become infected have died, despite intensive therapy in hospital.

Minimise the risk to yourself and your horse by:

• preventing horses from eating or drinking feed or water that may be contaminated by body fluids from fruit bats roosting, feeding or flying overhead and
• knowing the signs of Hendra and what to do if you suspect infection.

This Safety Alert provides links to information on Hendra virus that will assist you to understand the disease and how to minimise the risk of infection. 

Pass this Alert on to your members and industry contacts and to any staff who may handle horses.