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Source: https://www.therural.com.au/story/74...ss-the-nation/
October 15 2021 - 8:33AM
New Hendra strain discovered in flying foxes across the nation
Jamieson MurphyJamieson Murphy
THE equine industry is on high alert after the discover of a new strain of Hendra virus, which is more widely distributed than previous thought and can be found in flying foxes across the nation
The zootropic can be transmitted from flying foxes to horses, and from horses to people, however had only been found in Queensland and parts of NSW.
CSIRO scientists found the new genetic variation, Hendra Virus Genotype 2 (HeV-g2), in a horse near Newcastle NSW, in the southern most case of Hendra yet recorded.
After monitoring flying fox samples from 2013 to 2021, researchers at CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness found the new genetic type in flying foxes in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
Previous studies suggested the black and the spectacled flying foxes were the primary carriers of Hendra virus.
However, the new study found the HeV-g2 in grey-headed flying foxes in Victoria and South Australia, and in the little red flying fox in Western Australia, confirming the virus can be found in four species of flying fox and in a broad geographic range of Australia.
CSIRO scientist Dr Kim Halpin said spillover of the disease from flying foxes to horses has still only been reported in Queensland and NSW...
October 15 2021 - 8:33AM
New Hendra strain discovered in flying foxes across the nation
Jamieson MurphyJamieson Murphy
THE equine industry is on high alert after the discover of a new strain of Hendra virus, which is more widely distributed than previous thought and can be found in flying foxes across the nation
The zootropic can be transmitted from flying foxes to horses, and from horses to people, however had only been found in Queensland and parts of NSW.
CSIRO scientists found the new genetic variation, Hendra Virus Genotype 2 (HeV-g2), in a horse near Newcastle NSW, in the southern most case of Hendra yet recorded.
After monitoring flying fox samples from 2013 to 2021, researchers at CSIRO's Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness found the new genetic type in flying foxes in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.
Previous studies suggested the black and the spectacled flying foxes were the primary carriers of Hendra virus.
However, the new study found the HeV-g2 in grey-headed flying foxes in Victoria and South Australia, and in the little red flying fox in Western Australia, confirming the virus can be found in four species of flying fox and in a broad geographic range of Australia.
CSIRO scientist Dr Kim Halpin said spillover of the disease from flying foxes to horses has still only been reported in Queensland and NSW...
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