It's About The Horse

Clarissa · Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject: Hendra Virus

Well it's struck again.

A property at Rockhampton Queensland has a Hendra Virus outbreak. It's been all over the news here for 2 wks or so.

But today comes the distressing news that yet another vet has contracted the virus while treating a horse on the property before they realised is was Hendra virus.

The poor guy is in intensive care having been flown to Brisbane today. If he dies, that will make 3 vets dead from the virus.

All because we can no longer shoot the bloody flying foxes (fruit bats) that carry the darned disease. They breed in their hundreds of thousands & develop massive communities but we can't keep their numbers in check because they are "endangered" native fauna!! When they are hanging (roosting) in trees over horse yards they pee & poop into the water troughs, feed bins & just onto the grass that the horses graze. Apparently the disease is in the pee of pregnant females.

Years ago we used to get rid of them from around stock yards as not only do they deficate everywhere but they regurgitate all manner of weed seeds in a slimey froth which grow & can be toxic to stock. We either shot them with a shotgun or if we had a fire fighter water pump we would use the high pressure hose to force them out of the trees above the yards & send them down to the creeks to roost.

But the worst thing is the government really hasn't done the right thing regarding bio security in this instance just like in past outbreaks. My Mother was telling me her friend was talking to the lady who worked on the stud & who was put into hospital to receive injections of the supposed antiviral that would stop her getting the disease. She said they didn't do the right bio secrutiy with her & didn't keep records of how she fared after the daily injections (it's still experimental). She has got sick from the injections but they won't take any notice of her & told her to leave the hospital!

Now the vet she called to treat the mares that eventually died is really sick with the virus. He will probably die with the next few days & others may still develop the disease yet too. There were 35 people who either worked on the stud or were directly involved in treating the sick horses. The gov't says there has never been a case of human to human transmission of the hendra virus so no need for bio security off the stud. They said that about swine flu too!

_________________
http://clissats-own-page.blogspot.com/
Most of L4 PNH achieved WooHoo!! happy10

eva · Member Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Posts: 62

What a story !

Too crazy for words...

Kiparra · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 12:35 pm Post subject:

Its a big worry. and we thought the government was meant to protect us from such things and help reduce/erradicate it.
_________________

PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9037

How scary! How do the vets contract the disease? Do livestock get it and then the vet gets it from treating the animals? I think it would be wise to keep all water and feed troughs out from under places where they roost if that is how the disease is passed.

A friend stapled chicken wire to her rafters to keep birds out of them. Works very well.

In a past life, I was a biosafety officer. I think if I were a vet there I'd wear protective clothing. Darn scary!
_________________
Carol Nudell
Corazon de Oro Paso Finos

"The path to your horse's heart lies through your own."

Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots. - Words of Wisdom - Mhar

‎"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss activities; Small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

sarah · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:46 am Post subject:

This is indeed scary. And Australia is being typically laid back in its approach to how it handles this. We have not had a really, really big "bio" scare in the last fifty years. What short memories we have!

from http://www.csiro.au/science/Hendra-Virus.html

Introduction
In September 1994, a prominent Queensland horse trainer Mr Vic Rail, his stablehand, and most of his horses fell ill to a sudden and mysterious illness.
Within several days, the trainer and 14 horses were dead. As the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) collected specimens from affected race horses and submitted them for testing at CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria, newspapers ran with headlines like 'Death virus cancels races, threatens Cup'.
AAHL's diagnostic team isolated and identified what proved to be a new virus that had not been reported anywhere else in the world.
Researchers initially named it equine morbillivirus but further genetic analysis showed that the most appropriate classification of the virus was as a new genus within the Paramyxoviridae family.
The name Hendra is now used, after the name of the Brisbane suburb in which the outbreak occurred.
The strength of AAHL's capabilities was clearly demonstrated by the manner in which the infectious agent was isolated, the disease reproduced in horses and the virus eventually identified using electron microscopy and gene sequence analysis.
With the cause of the disease outbreak known, AAHL researchers developed diagnostic tests. QDPI, Queensland Health and AAHL tested more than 2 500 horse samples and 150 human samples, not finding any new cases.

Further cases (current at August 2009)
In the last 15 years, seven people have been confirmed to have been infected with Hendra virus, and three have died as a result of the disease. In addition to the initial case in 1994, a farmer from Mackay died in 1995 and a Brisbane vet passed away in August 2008.
There have also been 12 clusters of Hendra virus infection recorded in horses since the virus was first identified.
Authorities are continuing to respond to the current Hendra virus incident at Cawarral, near Rockhampton, Queensland, which has affected both people and horses.
As a national facility, AAHL is required to provide diagnosis of emergency animal diseases, which includes:
index case confirmation
national emergency response capability
use of accredited and validated tests.
This has meant the facility has been actively involved in each recorded Hendra virus incident.

Research findings
Unlike other Paramyxoviridae viruses which tend to be host-specific, Hendra can infect more than one animal species.
Scientists believe fruit bats are the natural ‘host’ of the virus, meaning the virus is carried by bats but has little effect on them. However, when transmitted to humans and horses, the virus can be lethal.
AAHL researchers were awarded the CSIRO Chairman’s Medal in recognition of their work in identifying Hendra virus.
AAHL research shows that horses, cats and guinea pigs can excrete virus in their urine. The virus isn't carried on the breath of horses. This helps to explain why Hendra virus isn’t highly contagious.
The means by which Hendra virus infected the horses at Hendra and Mackay isn't known. Infected bat urine, an aborted bat foetus or reproductive fluids could have been involved.
In 1995 the AAHL research team was awarded the CSIRO Chairman's Medal in recognition of its work in identifying the new virus.

Continuing research
Research on Hendra virus and Nipah virus, a closely related virus first discovered in 1999, continues at AAHL.
A major research breakthrough occurred in 2005 when an international team, including AAHL researchers, identified the part of the cell membrane to which both Hendra and Nipah virus attach in order to enter and infect the cell
This discovery accelerated research in many different areas, including the development of improved diagnosis, vaccine, and anti-viral drug targets.
Recently, the group at AAHL in collaboration with US scientists evaluated a potential human vaccine to provide protection against both Nipah and Hendra virus.
The results of this research, published in July this year, represents significant progress towards the development of a human vaccine to be used in the event of a another natural outbreak, a laboratory accident, or deliberate misuse.
McEachern JA, Bingham J, Crameri G, Green DJ, Hancock TJ, Middleton D, Feng YR, Broder CC, Wang LF, Bossart KN. 2008. A recombinant subunit vaccine formulation protects against lethal Nipah virus challenge in cats. Vaccine. 26(31):3842-52. [external link]
Further research is planned to develop improved high throughput screening tests to evaluate Nipah antivirals, and three different therapeutic approaches to combat Hendra virus including:
a human/animal vaccine
antibody therapy
small molecule drugs.
Scientists at AAHL are studying bat ecology and the bat immune system to determine how viruses, such as Hendra, maintain themselves in bats and how they ‘spill over’ into humans and other animals.
Research to understand more about zoonotic diseases is also being undertaken, with a focus on the interaction of bats and viruses and identifying and characterising new and emerging infectious agents.

Biocontainment
CSIRO scientists who undertake research with Hendra virus and Nipah virus must work at Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) - the highest biosecurity level. This requires scientists to wear fully encapsulated suits with their own air supply.
AAHL provides a unique resource for Australia and its capacity to work with deadly Biosafety Level 4 disease agents is arguably the best in the world.

Watch the ABC Catalyst episode on Hendra virus [external link].

Clarissa · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject:

Sarah you said Australia hasn't had a big bio scare in the last 50 yrs but have you already forgotten Equine Influenza!!

The vet who contracted the virus this time round is in a coma now so that's probably the end for him.

Some other stud workers have also tested positive & have been flown to the same Brisbane hospital.

Several horses on the Rocky stud have been put down during the last 2 days after their tests came back positive to the virus. The thing is no-one is sure that horses catch it from each other or even if the horse carries & exudes the virus at a later date.

During the previous outbreak, one horse recovered from the virus & some vets wanted to keep it alive for testing but CSIRO said it had to be put down anyway.
_________________
http://clissats-own-page.blogspot.com/
Most of L4 PNH achieved WooHoo!! happy10

sarah · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:45 pm Post subject:

Clarissa, I should have been more specific...

Australia handles all bio things like this because they have forgotten how many people things like this can affect. The EI outbreak did not affect Joe Citizen - it only affected horse people. The general community says "oh, that's awful", and goes back to their everyday life with nary a backwards glance.

We have such a laid back "we're so far from anyone" attitude that they think that we can't be badly affected by anything.

For example, on the Friday, a week prior to the Narrabri and Warwick horse events in August 2007 (I think they were campdrafts or something), the ABC radio Rural Report had an item that a stallion at the Eastern Creek Quarantine facility, recently imported from Japan, where it was known that there was an outbreak of EI, was showing symptoms of EI. I remember talking to my hubby about how "Australia is going to stuff this up".

A week later, the Narrabri event was on. At about 1pm on the Saturday it was announced on the radio that EI was out of quarantine and into the horse community in Sydney and that all events were cancelled and everyone was in lockdown.

I called a friend who was at Narrabri to say what was happening and to tell the organisers to contact the DPI. She did that, and the organisers still let people leave. That one incident of people being chronically lax when the information was available and rules were in place, infected horses in NSW, VIC and Queensland. Other places that had events and who let people leave, did similar damage. It resulted in the whole of Australia being locked down when it could have been much better contained if people had taken the warnings and rules more seriously.

I cannot tell you how many horses were moved under the cover of darkness in just our district alone. When I called the DPI, they were powerless to do anything about it - they lacked the manpower and they simply had to rely on people doing the right thing. Too many naive Australian's just don't believe the rules apply to them, because nothing like that will ever happen to Australia.

I don't know what it will take for Australians to take these things seriously. Even the swine flu hasn't stopped them from recklessly sharing their germs.

Hoping that the vet can be one of the success stories with the Hendra virus. Last I heard, his coma was an induced one, so that may be a positive sign.

Scarlet Belle · Guest

I can't believe that they will not allow you to get rid of the bats causing the problem? The vets are dying while trying to assist the animals? This is crazy.
And we thought the snakes and crocs were bad!
Sonya

PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9037

If that article is accurate about what is known about the Hendra virus pathway, then I can understand them not allowing the bats to be exterminated. We don't kill ALL birds to eliminate the pathway for WNV, or kill rodents to get rid of the plague, etc. They would need to know a certain population of bats carried the disease.

But, that doesn't explain why horse farms don't seal rafters so bats can't nest in the barns and urinate in the water sources.

It is sad about the veterinarians though. I would think biosafety precautions and protective clothing would be appropriate.
_________________
Carol Nudell
Corazon de Oro Paso Finos

"The path to your horse's heart lies through your own."

Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots. - Words of Wisdom - Mhar

‎"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss activities; Small minds discuss people." - Eleanor Roosevelt

oztinks · Member Joined: 11 Jun 2009 Posts: 52

This article from last years outbreak says it all
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/n...ter/2008/11/02/1225560616173.html
_________________
www.acu-light.com.au
Affordable Photonic Therapy

See Love, Hear Love, Speak Love, Be Love

Clarissa · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 12:32 pm Post subject:

Paso, most of our studs are in open paddocks on quite big properties. The paddocks have trees & bush in them where flying foxes hang in their 1000's to each tree. They move roosting sites every so often once they have destroyed those trees.

Flying foxes are big bats, their bodies being 9-12" long with a wing span of up to 2'6". It's impossible to stop them setting up a new roosting site, but it is possible to move them on quickly. High pressure water jets are very effective at moving them on. They hate getting wet, flying or being disturbed in the daylight & if it is done every morning & evening for a week or so they will move on.

But by law, people aren't allowed to disturb them as they are native fauna! Many colonies number 50,000 or more. When they fly over here in the early evening they darken the sky for several minutes. The colony that flies over here comes from near Gympie where it's camp is by the Mary River just out of town. They fly down to the Sunshine Coast about 50/100K's away where there are good fruit farms. But flying foxes will easily fly 150k's for a good feed of tree blossom or fruit just ready to harvest.

When they fly over I get under cover so I don't get splooted on!

_________________
http://clissats-own-page.blogspot.com/
Most of L4 PNH achieved WooHoo!! happy10

PasoBaby_CarolU · Site Admin Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 9037

Kiparra · Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:35 am Post subject:

Among the general thought of many Australians that 'it will never happen to us', i think the government lacks that 'prior and proper preparation' that is often so much needed.
They seem to wait until something happens before they make a move. I know that you cant be prepared for every individual disease but perhaps they need more precaution.
Im sure they are doing what they can? But in the meantime people and animals are suffering and we are powerless to help.
_________________

Chablis · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 2:56 am Post subject:

Just received this sad news...

Clarissa · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 4:12 am Post subject:

Being proactive & removing the threat is still the best way to protect against HeV!

Removing the flying foxes from near horse paddocks should be allowed. They don't have to be killed as it is easy enough to move them on. Although so called "experts" don't seem to be able to do it!! They have tried all manner of lame devices like whistles, hanging foil strips, ferimones, banging tin cans, etc.

But then we know what an 'expert' is.......X is an unknown quantity & spurt is a drip under pressure!!

Bats hate getting wet & hate being touched & high pressure water jets do both very well to cause them to move house. Yet wetting the bats is proclaimed to be inhumane! They might catch cold & die! WTF!!!

What about vets, other people & horses dying ???? Isn't that inhumane too??

But it's OK to bulldoze 1000's of acres of costal & rain forest for new suburbs thereby removing the natural habitat of many species including the dratted bats.
_________________
http://clissats-own-page.blogspot.com/
Most of L4 PNH achieved WooHoo!! happy10