<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia has recorded another fatal case of the Hendra virus — a deadly disease that can spread from horses to humans.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hendra virus is a severe and often fatal infection that starts in flying foxes and is more commonly spread to horses. It can be transferred to dogs and humans in rare cases.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Biosecurity Queensland has confirmed an unvaccinated horse tested positive for the virus in the south-east on Friday, and later died after its condition rapidly deteriorated.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rich-choup-murder-contract-crew-sought-over-death-torture-incidents-in-nsw-queensland/7270a0e4-7d13-4f62-bea1-39d74cb95ec7" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Victims of deadly 'contract crew' worked for drug gang, police say</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is the state's first case of the virus since 2022. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Biosecurity Queensland is working with the horse owner to contain the risk to the property.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Tracing and exposure assessments have been undertaken on other horses and animals on the property," Biosecurity Queensland Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Fiona Thompson said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/hendra-virus-queensland-records-first-fatal-case-in-three-years/b8b851df-e05a-4a7d-b32e-28da5bb6917e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are also working with Queensland Health in relation to humans who may have had contact with the infected horse so their experts can manage the health of people involved."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland Health has contacted everyone known to have been exposed to the infected horse.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While the Hendra virus can spread from horses to people, it is rare. We know from past cases of Hendra virus infection in horses that most people exposed remain well and don't contract the infection," Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Heidi Carroll said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People who are assessed as having a high level of exposure to the infected horse will undergo prioritised testing for the virus."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Racing Queensland confirmed the infected horse was not a racehorse and joined authorities in urging anyone concerned about possible infection to contact their veterinarian immediately and avoid contact with the horse until test results are obtained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/darling-downs-zoo-queensland-update-woman-arm-injured-animal-bite/8e913db2-37d4-44d0-b0a6-2b07dd1b8318" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Zoo won't 'punish' big cat after woman loses arm in attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>What is Hendra virus — the disease only found in Australia?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first recorded outbreak of Hendra virus was at a large racing stable in the Brisbane suburb of Hendra in 1994.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There have been more than 90 horses infected since, all of which have died as a result of the virus or euthanasia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seven people have been infected with the virus and four have died, with the most recent in 2009.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The exact transmission is unknown, but Queensland Health believes horses contract the disease from coming into contact with material contaminated by infected flying fox fluids and excretions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is then believed to spread from horse to horse through contact with infectious body fluids and contaminated equipment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The seven human cases all became infected after a high level of exposure to infected horses, predominantly in veterinary-like situations. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Symptoms in humans include influenza-like illness, with symptoms of fever, cough, sore throat, headaches, tiredness and encephalitis, with symptoms of headache, high fever, drowsiness, convulsions and coma.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/interest-rates-rba-australia-savings/4d05cf8f-2ac6-4bdc-a2c8-5e3e75884f70" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>How much Aussie homeowners will save with a July rate cut</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The time between exposure to an infected horse to a human contracting the virus has varied between five to 21 days. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Symptoms in horses are harder to recognise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Early signs can include fever, increased heart rate, restlessness, weakness and muscle twitching.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Horses can be vaccinated against the Hendra virus, but humans cannot. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Hendra virus infection can occur throughout the year, so it's important that horse owners and people in contact with horses take steps to protect themselves and their animals at all times," Thompson said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We'd urge them to continue to practice good biosecurity and personal hygiene measures — even if a horse is vaccinated against Hendra virus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If a horse becomes sick, owners should contact their veterinarian immediately."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> Biosecurity Queensland advises people to wash their hands regularly after touching horses, cover wounds with a waterproof dressing, wear personal protective equipment and wash unprotected skin if it comes into contact with a horse's body fluids and manure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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