Precautions

Whether you live near one of the documented "hot-spots" or hundreds of kilometers away, you may want to take steps to reduce the risk of exposure to your horses. The advice on this page is offered by Biosecurity Queensland, and the Australian Veterinary Association.

Based on the current understanding of the spread of Hendra virus infection there are a number of strategies that can be employed by horse owners to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus. Key amongst these is getting your horse vaccinated against the virus.

Also see the AVA Flyer, the Qld Horse Council Flyer, the Property Design Flyer , and their Bats and Trees Flyer.

Place all feed and water containers under cover.
Try to bring horses into covered enclosures or enclosed paddocks with no trees at night to reduce potential contact with flying fox colonies.
Remove horses from paddocks where flowering trees have resulted in a temporary surge in flying fox numbers. This includes large shade trees such as eucalypts when in flower and figs when in fruit.
Completely remove horses from areas where flying foxes roost (camp during the day).
When planting trees on your property do not plant trees that attract flying foxes in or near horse paddocks. These include trees with soft fruits for example, figs and stone fruits such as peaches, loquats, and mangos.
Seek veterinary advice before bringing any sick horses on to your property.
If you have a horse that you suspect of having Hendra, do not move any other horse off the property until given the all clear by the proper authorities.
Keep any sick horses isolated from people and other animals.
Plan a quarantine area on your property where sick horses can be isolated.
Remember to thoroughly wash your hands after and between handling individual horses to prevent the potential spread of Hendra virus infection.

The map above is taken from the Victorian DPI website, and shows the limits of the range of the four species of Australian Flying-foxes. It is adapted frm a map prepared by Hall & Richards in 2000.

It shows the areas within which Flying foxes may travel and roost. It does not infer that all the shaded areas contain populations of Flying-foxes at any given time. The shaded areas show the areas which could theoretically be susceptible to transmission. So far, outbreaks have been limited to the area indicated, indicating that other factors are at play.