Outbreak
July 9th 2008 09:51
The death of two horses after an outbreak of the Hendra virus has resurrected memories of the colourful (ironically named Queenslander) Vic Rail who had great success as a trainer of the champion Vo Rogue, but who met his death as a result of this contagious disease.
(photo: Rick Scott)
The outbreak has been confirmed at a veterinary facility in Brisbane and quarantine measures have been implemented to contain the outbreak to this facility. At this time one horse has died from the virus; a second had to be euthanised; and a third who also contracted the virus is recovering.
Hendra Virus is a rare virus with the capacity to kill horses and humans alike. It is a zoonotic disease that is spread between species.
In 1997 Vic Rail was dismayed and staggered by the amount of sick horses in his stable. Fourteen of his 21 horses were so sick they could barely breathe - and a mare in foal had died, blood spouting from her nostrils.
Vic Rail invited government veterinarians to examine his horses - but they returned as perplexed as he was. And it may have been Vic Rail’s inherent kindness that cost him his own life.
As the mare in foal lay dying, Vic Rail and a stablehand, Ray Unwin, stayed with her to comfort her in her confusion and pain. It was not long before the 49 year old trainer and his 40 year old stable hand were also showing symptoms of the disease, and they were rushed to Brisbane Royal Hospital’s intensive care ward. Vic Rail died 6 days later from what would be classified as pneumonia. Ray Unwin recovered very slowly, but did survive.
Researcher’s investigated the mystery illness and found bloated cells clinging to the interior walls of blood vessels in all of the (examined horse’s) major tissues. Within these cells they found viruses they had never previously seen. These same viruses also turned up in tissue samples from Rail’s kidneys.
The researcher’s named the microbe: Equine Morbillivirus (EMV) and published their results. Extensive research finally revealed that the host for the disease was the fruit bat (flying fox).
The virus has later been named the Hendra Virus after the suburb in Brisbane where the first outbreak occurred. In 1994 in its initial (and worst) outbreak the Hendra virus killed Vic Rail and 14 horses. There have been other small outbreaks in the years since the death of Vic Rail.
This new event comes at a time to remind racing authorities of the calamity that was EI (Equine Influenza) last year. Hendra Virus however is not highly contagious and is spread by close proximity contact.
At this time there are concerns for the welfare of the vets at this clinic. The horses affected were all either in operating theatres with possible exposure to contamination through fluid exchange - or some ill horses were hand fed. The disease is not airborne, but such close contact leads to some concerns for the veterinarian team.
Also, there is no bat population in the area of the clinic, and the ill horses are presenting with affected neurological function - leading to fears on a new mutant strain.
Flying fox: host of the Hendra Virus
(photo: Rick Scott)
The outbreak has been confirmed at a veterinary facility in Brisbane and quarantine measures have been implemented to contain the outbreak to this facility. At this time one horse has died from the virus; a second had to be euthanised; and a third who also contracted the virus is recovering.
Hendra Virus is a rare virus with the capacity to kill horses and humans alike. It is a zoonotic disease that is spread between species.
In 1997 Vic Rail was dismayed and staggered by the amount of sick horses in his stable. Fourteen of his 21 horses were so sick they could barely breathe - and a mare in foal had died, blood spouting from her nostrils.
Vic Rail invited government veterinarians to examine his horses - but they returned as perplexed as he was. And it may have been Vic Rail’s inherent kindness that cost him his own life.
As the mare in foal lay dying, Vic Rail and a stablehand, Ray Unwin, stayed with her to comfort her in her confusion and pain. It was not long before the 49 year old trainer and his 40 year old stable hand were also showing symptoms of the disease, and they were rushed to Brisbane Royal Hospital’s intensive care ward. Vic Rail died 6 days later from what would be classified as pneumonia. Ray Unwin recovered very slowly, but did survive.
Researcher’s investigated the mystery illness and found bloated cells clinging to the interior walls of blood vessels in all of the (examined horse’s) major tissues. Within these cells they found viruses they had never previously seen. These same viruses also turned up in tissue samples from Rail’s kidneys.
The researcher’s named the microbe: Equine Morbillivirus (EMV) and published their results. Extensive research finally revealed that the host for the disease was the fruit bat (flying fox).
The virus has later been named the Hendra Virus after the suburb in Brisbane where the first outbreak occurred. In 1994 in its initial (and worst) outbreak the Hendra virus killed Vic Rail and 14 horses. There have been other small outbreaks in the years since the death of Vic Rail.
This new event comes at a time to remind racing authorities of the calamity that was EI (Equine Influenza) last year. Hendra Virus however is not highly contagious and is spread by close proximity contact.
At this time there are concerns for the welfare of the vets at this clinic. The horses affected were all either in operating theatres with possible exposure to contamination through fluid exchange - or some ill horses were hand fed. The disease is not airborne, but such close contact leads to some concerns for the veterinarian team.
Also, there is no bat population in the area of the clinic, and the ill horses are presenting with affected neurological function - leading to fears on a new mutant strain.
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Comment by Leonard Marlborough
Racing Write
Tusday, 22 July 2008:
As many as 50 people must wait until Friday before they can be cleared of incubating the potentially deadly Hendra virus.
On Tuesday morning, Queensland Health re-tested 25 staff of a Brisbane bayside veterinary clinic at the centre of the worst Hendra virus outbreak since 1994.
Two horses died from the virus about a fortnight ago and two staff at the clinic are in hospital after contracting the virus last week.
Authorities say it takes 14 days for the virus to incubate and a negative test the second time round would clear individuals of the potential of contracting the virus.
The results are expected to be released on Friday.
About 25 vets, nurses and auxiliary staff of the Redlands Veterinary Clinic had samples taken at the clinic on Tuesday.
A Queensland Health spokeswoman said 25 more people, who were not clinic staff but were associated with the infected horses, were being tested at their homes.