| The Hendra horse virus has so far killed 4 | | | | Farms and aren't particular about what type of fruit |
| Veterinarians in Australia and two horse owner | | | | they eat. Most trees in Australia produce something |
| trainers. The outbreak of this deadly disease has | | | | edible each year that these Fruit Bats love and they |
| reared its ugly head in Australia once more this past | | | | gouge themselves which in turn, creates a lot of urine |
| week and now has another four people waiting to see | | | | and poo, and this falls into the horse drinking troughs |
| whether or not they are infected. Can you imagine the | | | | and infects the water. |
| worry and angst those families are going through? | | | | Bat birthing fluids are also considered to be a cause of |
| Doesn't bare thinking about. | | | | infections. Even daily cleaning of these horse troughs |
| So what is this virus? The Hendra horse virus was | | | | isn't enough to stop the virus from making the horse |
| first detected in Brisbane Australia in 1994 when it killed | | | | sick by which time the owner/trainer then calls in a Vet |
| a horse trainer by the name of Vic Rail at a small | | | | to see to the animal. |
| township called Hendra. During this outbreak of the | | | | Unfortunately for Veterinarians, the symptoms of |
| virus it killed fourteen horses as well as the horse | | | | Hendra are not specifically distinctive, so Vets attend |
| trainer, Vic Rail. Up until this point in time, it was | | | | these animals initially when not fully protected with full |
| unknown for a virus to spread from a horse to a | | | | Biosuits. By the time the disease is clearly identified, the |
| human being. The virus is carried by Fruit Bats and this | | | | horse is much, much sicker and the Vet isn't feeling |
| is what infects the horses. Many stockyards in | | | | well either displaying 'flu-like symptoms. |
| Australia are situated under shady trees to provide | | | | By this stage the horse is immediately put down and |
| shade for any animals held in the yards. | | | | the Vet goes to the isolation ward in their local hospital. |
| These shady trees often produce fruit that these fruit | | | | To date, there is no vaccine for horse or human. Few |
| bats love to eat, or they provide a good nesting | | | | humans have survived so far but there has been a |
| rookery for these Fruit Bats to home in on every night. | | | | stable hand in McKay who is still alive after being |
| These Fruit Bats cause a lot of damage to Fruit | | | | infected in the original outbreak. |