5818

	va1-sg19016.securesites.net

	version=3.1.8





******************************************************************************









the autopsied horse and its trainer [sic] were 

apparently severe enough (respiratory symptoms?) 

that Hendra infection was suspected, we would 

still be interested to know if anybody has 

information about the final diagnosis of those 



I am unable to answer these questions 

definitively without the name of the vet allegedly exposed.



However our public health laboratory, which 

receives all requests for Hendra testing in 

humans in Queensland, notes that the only request 

for Hendra testing that fits the bill was one 

received in August at around the time the Horse 

[magazine] article came out, on a vet who had 

been exposed to an ill horse. The Population 

Health Unit investigating this case advises that 

the vet was not ill but was getting precautionary 

testing, the horse did not fit the clinical 

criteria for Hendra illness, both horse and vet 

tested negative for Hendra, and no autopsy was performed.



posting refer to, there are numerous blatant 

errors of fact. In any case the posting is 

obviously incorrect and should be withdrawn.



--

Dr Frank Beard

Senior Medical Officer

Communicable Diseases Branch

Queensland Health





disseminated incorrect information, and this 

moderator especially regrets confusing the issue 

further by saying a trainer was the suspect case, 

when the person involved was a veterinarian.



So let's get this straight. There was sick horse 

that was not autopsied. Its vet was not 

hospitalized as a suspected case, but he was 

tested for Hendra infection as a precaution. And 

there was one confirmed horse case, not 2, of 

Hendra virus, human, equine - Australia (QLD) 



to send followup information on our reports. In 

view of the outstanding cooperation from Dr Frank 

Beard of Queensland Health & Dr Eva-Maria 

Bernoth, Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, we 

will have no hesitation checking with them before 

posting any such news report from Australia in 

future. Thank you both. - Mod.JW]



....................jw/ejp/dk