Queensland racing, campdrafting events to continue after Hendra detection
An unvaccinated horse in the state's south-east died last week after contracting the virus, which is spread from flying foxes to horses and can then pass to humans and dogs.
It comes as the two biggest equestrian sports — racing and campdrafting — enter their peak seasons, with many flagship events during winter.
Equine vets are urging horse owners to vaccinate their animals.
Hendra virus has a high mortality rate. Health authorities estimate 80 per cent of horses and 70 per cent of people with Hendra virus die.
But while deadly, it is does not spread quickly. It can only be caught through direct close contact and is easily killed by soap or detergent.
In 2012, a vaccine for horses was released, but some horse owners reported negative side effects, culminating in a class action lawsuit against manufacturer Zoetis that ultimately failed.
"It is a rare disease, but the consequences are very high," Equine Veterinarians Australia president Laura Hardefeldt said.
"We strongly encourage horse owners to speak with their veterinarians about the risks of Hendra and the benefits of vaccination."
The case confirmed by Biosecurity Queensland on July 4 is the first in the state since 2022 and only the second in almost a decade.
But it comes at a peak time for the equine community as country shows, races and campdrafts attract horses from all over the country.
The Australian Bushmen's Campdraft and Rodeo Association (ABCRA) has 7,000 members, making it the largest non-profit equine sporting organisation.
Executive officer Craig Young said the latest case was unlikely to disrupt events.
Horse owners have a legal obligation to report suspected cases to their veterinarian immediately, to isolate any sick horses and to avoid close contact while awaiting test results.
Symptoms in horses typically include:
Symptoms in humans include:
If a horse tests positive, animals from that property and neighbouring properties may be quarantined, but there are no movement restrictions for the general horse population.
Horse events are not required to mandate vaccination but must adhere to biosecurity regulations and have a plan to mitigate the risk.
"The ABCRA has never mandated vaccination for Hendra," Mr Young said.
"The lack of Hendra outbreaks is probably the reason behind that.
Vaccination is not compulsory and event requirements vary across the equestrian industry.
Brisbane's Ekka requires all horses entering the showgrounds be vaccinated against Hendra, but many other competitions leave the decision to owners.
A spokesperson from Biosecurity Queensland said it would not release the specific location of the latest detection for safety and privacy reasons.
In a statement, Racing Queensland said it joined Biosecurity Queensland in encouraging owners to vaccinate their horses.
In north-west Queensland more than 1,500km away from the detection, one of the circuit's major events, the Cloncurry Stockman's Challenge, is going ahead as planned.
President Vince Wall said organisers were confident of their disease prevention protocols.
"We have a traceability system in place for the movement of livestock, so we feel pretty confident that we'll be right," he said.
"It's a pretty long bow to draw.
Mr Wall said animal welfare remained a priority.
"These horses are worth a lot of money, and they are their [owners'] mates," he said.
"They're part of their family, so they like to look after them and ensure that everything is going to be right."
Veterinarians like Dr Hardefeldt urged horse owners to be proactive.
She said while vaccine uptake is highest in Queensland and New South Wales vaccination rates were inconsistent across the country.
"The anti-vax sentiment is a problem," she said.
Since it was first identified in 1994, Hendra virus has killed four people and more than 90 horses.
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