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Hendra virus

Hendra virus is a sporadic disease of horses and humans that can cause very serious illness. The natural hosts of Hendra virus are flying foxes which can pass the virus onto horses. Human infection results from close contact with infected horses and their blood, body fluids and tissues.

Prevention of Hendra virus requires stringent biosecurity, workplace health and safety and infection control measures.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has a range of resources to assist the veterinary and horse-related industries to manage Hendra virus risks.

Summary report: Outcomes of an audit of Hendra virus risk management in the veterinary industry

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland conducted an audit of Hendra virus risk management in the Queensland veterinary profession in 2010. This report (PDF, 135 kB) summarises the findings of the audit.

Hendra virus infection resource kit

• What is Hendra virus?
• Flying foxes and Hendra virus
• Guidelines for holding equestrian activities
• Hendra virus - information for veterinarians (PDF, 54 kB)
• Hendra virus - information for horse properties and other horse-related businesses (PDF, 72 kB)
• Hendra virus infection fact sheet
• Hendra virus - information for businesses that dispose of horse carcasses (PDF, 63 kB)
• Preventing infection (PDF, 292 kB)
  Guidelines produced by the Hendra Virus Interagency Technical Working Group. A technical document for human and animal health care providers.

Self-surveys

• Hendra virus - self survey for horse properties (PDF, 55 kB)
• Hendra virus - self survey for veterinarians (PDF, 55 kB)