Friday, May 13, 2011

Cairns Pets - Vets warns Cairns horse owners: Hendra virus season ...

Cairns Vet Clinic keeps you up to date with latest in pet and animal news.

Hendra virus is a deadly virus carried by fruit bats which can infect horses, causing severe illness and death.? The virus can be transmitted from Horses to humans, so care is needed in handling any sick horses.

While this article is targetted in NSW and South QLD, Cairns has had the greatest number of Hendra virus infections in the country, so horse owners here need to be especially careful.?

Cairns Vet Clinic no longer does large animal work, and one of the main factors in the decision to discontinue horse work was the high risk of Hendra virus infection for Cairns Vets.


Read about Hendra Virus risks and prevention at ABC online http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/05/3208322.htm

Hendra virus season approaches

The Australian Veterinary Association is warning horse owners in south east New South Wales to take precautions against Hendra virus.

The season for the potentially fatal infection is approaching, and people are being warned to keep their horses away from flying foxes.

The Association?s President, Barry Smyth, says it is important to be vigilant.

"Keep horses away from where they might come in contact with the flying foxes," he said.

"That would involve fencing off areas where flying foxes roost, not putting feed bins or water bins under trees where flying foxes roost, and keeping a general eye on the health and welfare of their horses."

Common signs include an elevated body temperature and heart rate.

Dr Smyth says there are no reported cases in the region, but the risk remains.

"We do know that all flying fox populations in Australia show evidence of Hendra virus exposure," he said.

"The vast majority of cases have all been, so far, detected in Queensland.

"There?s been one instance in Murwillumbah, in north eastern New South Wales, but nothing further south to this time."

Source: http://pets.incairns.net.au/vets-warns-cairns-horse-owners-hendra-virus-season-approaches

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