15/07/2025
Hendra Virus in horses
There has been a horse death this month in southeast Queensland from Hendra Virus. This virus is extremely dangerous, as it can spread from horses to people, and has a very high death rate. 70% of people that have acquired this virus from horses (often vets) have died from the disease.
The closest case of Hendra to our community was in Newcastle in 2021.
It is possible that Hendra may spread closer to Sydney and our region in the future.
We highly recommend vaccinating your horse against Hendra, particularly if you are travelling North for competitions and clinics. Horses require 2 vaccinations one month apart, then another 6 months later. After this, they can be done annually. Your horse will be microchipped (if not already done) and put on a registry that will send you reminders for your vaccinations.
What is Hendra? The virus is shed by flying foxes when under stress, particularly in winter months. It is shed in the faeces and urine of the flying foxes, where it can be ingested by horses from contaminated feed or water. Horses show very variable signs of the disease, which may include lethargy, fever, inappetence and colic. They usually die within 7 days of showing symptoms.
If Hendra virus comes closer to our community, in the interests of everyone's safety, your unwell horse may either not be seen by a veterinarian unless it is up to date with its Hendra vaccination, or only be given pain relief until a negative test has been established. It is recommended to keep up to date with vaccinations to avoid any issues in the future.
Please don't hesitate to contact our friendly team if you would like to discuss this further or organise a vaccination for your horse!
Photo courtesy The Advertiser
