 | The facts without the hype
Hendra Virus is a serious issue, but with so much biased reporting and uninformed opinion, it can be hard to get to the facts. The result of this is people being given the wrong advice, and in at least one case, misdiagnosis. This site provides easy to understand explanations without bias, and provides links to authoritative government, scientific and veterinary sources.
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The Basics
Hendra Virus is one of two forms of "Henipavirus" (HeV) the other being Nipah Virus. While the virus is believed to have existed for thousands of years, it has only recently emerged as a zoonotic pathogen, capable of causing illness and death in domestic animals (horses) and humans, via close contact with infected horses.
While it is a relatively rare disease, categorised as low risk in most areas, it has a high mortality rate, and therefore precautions are advisable. Horse-owners and vets should make themselves aware of the symptoms of HeV (See our FAQ page) so as to avoid misdiagnosis. Horse-owners are also advised to follow the precautionary advice listed by the authorities (links on our Precautions page). | Negotiating this site
Throughout this site, we have embedded links within the text to the online source documents being referred to. These links are in green text. Clicking on these will open that website in a new tab in your browser.
"Supporting evidence-based analysis"
We support an evidence-based approach to the response to HeV. This term was coined by the medical profession and refers to making decisions by systematically reviewing all available evidence, especially scientifically obtained and verified evidence, rather than relying solely on local experience.
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