Hendra, Australia (OIE, July 27 2011): One Dog with Hendra Virus antibodies in Queensland

[Giuseppe]

[Source: OIE, full page: (LINK). Edited.]

Hendra, Australia


Information received on 27/07/2011 from Dr Andy Carroll, Chief Veterinary Officer , Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australian Government , Canberra, Australia

• Summary
  • Report type Immediate notification (Final report)
  • Start date 04/07/2011
  • Date of first confirmation of the event 25/07/2011
  • Report date 27/07/2011
  • Date submitted to OIE 27/07/2011
  • Date event resolved 27/07/2011
  • Reason for notification Emerging disease
  • Morbidity 33 %
  • Mortality 0 %
  • Zoonotic impact No humans have been affected in this case, but it is known that humans can become infected from contact with sick horses and that the disease can be fatal.
  • Causal agent Hendra virus
• New outbreaks
  • Outbreak 1 - Mount Alford, QUEENSLAND
    • Date of start of the outbreak 04/07/2011
    • Outbreak status Resolved (27/07/2011)
    • Epidemiological unit Farm
    • Affected animals: Species ? Susceptible ? Cases ? Deaths ? Destroyed ? Slaughtered
      • Dogs ? 3 ? 1 ? 0 ? 0 ? 0
      • Affected Population: Three companion dogs on a property with 10 horses. Three of the horses have died from Hendra virus infection between mid-June and early July. The dogs did not have signs of disease, but were tested because they had possible exposure to infected horses.
• Summary of outbreaks
  • Total outbreaks: 1
  • Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
    • Dogs - 33.33% - 0.00% - 0.00% - 0.00%
    • * Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
• Epidemiology
  • Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
    • Contact with wild species
• Epidemiological comments
  • A number of properties in Queensland and New South Wales are under quarantine due to Hendra virus infection in horses.
  • These infections are rare spillover events from the natural hosts for Hendra virus, flying foxes (also called fruit bats).
  • This case in a dog is the first report of a dog testing positive for Hendra virus exposure outside a laboratory.
  • The dog has not had a reported recent illness.
  • It is most likely that the dog contracted the infection from one of three horses on this property that have died from Hendra between mid-June and early July 2011.
  • All dogs are tested where they have had possible exposure to infected horses.
  • National policy is that domesticated animals that have evidence of infection with Hendra virus, even if they are not ill, are euthanised because of the potential risk they may pose to people.
  • The route of infection between bats and horses is believed to be via bat bodily fluids, including saliva, urine and birthing fluids contaminating horse feed or water.
  • The virus rarely spreads between horses.
  • There is no evidence of the virus being transmitted directly from the flying fox to humans.
• Control measures
  • Measures applied
    • Quarantine
    • Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
    • No vaccination
    • No treatment of affected animals
  • Measures to be applied
    • Modified stamping out
• Diagnostic test results
  • Laboratory name and type Australian Animal Health Laboratory (National laboratory)
    • Tests and results: Species ? Test - Test date ? Result
      • Dogs - enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) - 25/07/2011 ? Positive
      • Dogs - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - 04/07/2011 ? Negative
      • Dogs - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - 25/07/2011 ? Negative
      • Dogs - virus neutralisation test (VNT) - 25/07/2011 ? Positive
• Future Reporting
  • The event is resolved. No more reports will be submitted.

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