The Chief Veterinary Officer of the Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources, Brian Radunz, has announced a series of workshops for vets and horse owners regarding the risk of Hendra Virus infection in Territory horses.

 

The workshops are intended to ensure vets and horse-owners are aware of the virus, the way it is transmitted, its symptoms and possible consequences.

 

“While there has never been a case of Hendra Virus in the Territory the department wants to be sure people handling horses or coming into contact with them are aware of the symptoms of the virus and the possible consequences of an infection,” Dr Radunz added.

 

“As the virus originates in flying foxes with rare transmission to horses and subsequent potential transmission to a human, we will have experts from the Department of Health and Natural Resources and the Environment on hand to answer questions relating to flying foxes and treatment of humans  in contact with an infected horse,” he said. [find out more]