Hendra horse death takes toll to 15

BY LEMA SAMANDAR
29 Jul, 2011 04:00 AM
More people are being tested for the Hendra virus after the rapidly spreading infection claimed a fifth horse in NSW, taking the national toll to 15.
The horse died at a property near Mullumbimby on the NSW North Coast, the Department of Primary Industries confirmed yesterday. Four other horses along with three cats and two dogs on the property will be assessed on the quarantined property.
A NSW health spokesman said three people had been exposed to the virus in the most recent incident.
''Despite the negligible exposure, the three people are having blood tests,'' he said. ''Fifteen [other] people previously identified as having potential contacts to the previous infected horses in NSW are now past the incubation period.
''Six people from this group have had precautionary blood tests to check for unrecognised infection.''
However, he said none of the individuals had developed any symptoms associated with the virus, which typically develop between five and 16 days after their contact with an infectious horse.
In the latest fatality in NSW, the state's Chief Veterinary Officer Ian Roth said the horse was not noticeably ill on Saturday but was found dead in the paddock on Sunday morning.
A swab was taken from the dead horse and sent to a lab, which confirmed the presence of the virus on Wednesday night.
''It is likely that flying foxes in fig trees were again the source of infection,'' Mr Roth said.

Indonesia has temporarily banned the import of horses from Australia due to the outbreak. Malaysia has also banned Australian horses.