Hendra virus
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Fact sheet - Health conditions directory.
Information for people exposed to a horse infected with Hendra virus – Health conditions directory.
Hendra virus was discovered following an outbreak of illness in horses in a large racing stable in the suburb of Hendra, Brisbane in 1994. The natural host for Hendra virus is the flying fox. The virus can spread from flying foxes to horses, horses to horses and rarely, from horses to people. Since Hendra virus was identified in 1994, more than 90 horses are known to have been infected. These animals have either died as a direct result of their infection or have been euthanised. Several hundred people have been exposed to Hendra virus infected horses but have not been infected. However, 7 people have been confirmed to have Hendra virus following high levels of exposure to infected horses. Four of these people died, the most recent in 2009.
Public health management guidelines
Notification
Pathology laboratories
Veterinarians
Notification resources
- List of all Pathological, clinical and provisional diagnosis notifiable conditions
- List of Public Health Unit contacts
- Notifiable conditions report form for Queensland doctors/clinicians (PHA S70) or person in charge of a Hospital (PHA S71) (PDF, 77kB) - if faxing notification, follow up by phone.
Enhanced surveillance for public health units
- Hendra virus (confirmed animal case) exposure assessment form (PDF, 189kB) - used by public health units to collect and manage more detailed information for enhanced case surveillance.
Resources for health professionals
- Hendra virus information for healthcare workers (PDF, 61KB) – Queensland health factsheet on Hendra virus for healthcare workers.
- Hendra virus infection prevention advice – includes literature review and infection control management advice; does not include medical advice for treatment of infected people.
Information for industry
- Information for horse industries and owners – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
- Workplace health and Safety Queensland - resources to assist the veterinary and horse-related industries to manage Hendra virus risks.
Related information
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Bats and human health information about bats and Hendra.
Condition information
Search this database of all notifiable conditions and find:
- control guidelines
- notification requirements
- health alert information
- resources
Communicable diseases contacts
Ph: +61 7 3328 9724 / 9728
Fax: +61 7 3328 9782
Email: communicable diseases team
Find: local public health unit
Quick links
- Time out poster (PDF 160kB) - guidelines for minimum exclusion periods for cases and contacts attending schools, pre-schools and child care centres.
- Public health unit contact details
- Queensland notification criteria guidelines for laboratories (PDF 459kB) - identifies the results pathology laboratories should notify to the Queensland Notifiable Conditions Register
- Public Health Act 2005 - including Child Health - contagious conditions
