The Lancet Infectious Diseases, Early Online Publication, 24 August 2012
doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(12)70158-5
Hendra virus: an emerging paramyxovirus in Australia
Original Text
Dr Suresh Mahalingam PhD a ?, Lara J Herrero PhD a ?, E Geoffrey Playford PhD b, Kirsten Spann PhD c, Belinda Herring PhD a d, Michael S Rolph PhD a, Deborah Middleton PhD e, Bradley McCall MBBS f, Hume Field PhD g, Lin-Fa Wang PhD e
Summary
Hendra virus, first identified in 1994 in Queensland, is an emerging zoonotic pathogen gaining importance in Australia because a growing number of infections are reported in horses and people. The virus, a member of the family Paramyxoviridae (genus Henipavirus), is transmitted to horses by pteropid bats (fruit bats or flying foxes), with human infection a result of direct contact with infected horses. Case-fatality rate is high in both horses and people, and so far, more than 60 horses and four people have died from Hendra virus infection in Australia. Human infection is characterised by an acute encephalitic syndrome or relapsing encephalitis, for which no effective treatment is currently available. Recent identification1
of Hendra virus infection in a domestic animal outside the laboratory setting, and the large range of pteropid bats in Australia, underpins the potential of this virus to cause greater morbidity and mortality in both rural and urban populations and its importance to both veterinary and human health. Attempts at treatment with ribavirin and chloroquine have been unsuccessful. Education, hygiene, and infection control measures have hitherto been the mainstay of prevention, while access to monoclonal antibody treatment and development of an animal vaccine offer further opportunities for disease prevention and control.
a) Emerging Viruses and Inflammation Research Group, Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; b) Infection Management Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, and School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; c) Clinical Medical Virology Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; d) Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; e) CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, VIC, Australia; f) Brisbane Southside Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; g) Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Correspondence to: Dr Suresh Mahalingam, Emerging Viruses and Inflammation Research Group, Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University (Gold Coast campus), QLD 4222, Australia
?) Joint first authors
-doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(12)70158-5
Hendra virus: an emerging paramyxovirus in Australia
Original Text
Dr Suresh Mahalingam PhD a ?, Lara J Herrero PhD a ?, E Geoffrey Playford PhD b, Kirsten Spann PhD c, Belinda Herring PhD a d, Michael S Rolph PhD a, Deborah Middleton PhD e, Bradley McCall MBBS f, Hume Field PhD g, Lin-Fa Wang PhD e
Summary
Hendra virus, first identified in 1994 in Queensland, is an emerging zoonotic pathogen gaining importance in Australia because a growing number of infections are reported in horses and people. The virus, a member of the family Paramyxoviridae (genus Henipavirus), is transmitted to horses by pteropid bats (fruit bats or flying foxes), with human infection a result of direct contact with infected horses. Case-fatality rate is high in both horses and people, and so far, more than 60 horses and four people have died from Hendra virus infection in Australia. Human infection is characterised by an acute encephalitic syndrome or relapsing encephalitis, for which no effective treatment is currently available. Recent identification1
of Hendra virus infection in a domestic animal outside the laboratory setting, and the large range of pteropid bats in Australia, underpins the potential of this virus to cause greater morbidity and mortality in both rural and urban populations and its importance to both veterinary and human health. Attempts at treatment with ribavirin and chloroquine have been unsuccessful. Education, hygiene, and infection control measures have hitherto been the mainstay of prevention, while access to monoclonal antibody treatment and development of an animal vaccine offer further opportunities for disease prevention and control.a) Emerging Viruses and Inflammation Research Group, Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; b) Infection Management Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, and School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; c) Clinical Medical Virology Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; d) Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; e) CSIRO Livestock Industries, Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Geelong, VIC, Australia; f) Brisbane Southside Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; g) Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Correspondence to: Dr Suresh Mahalingam, Emerging Viruses and Inflammation Research Group, Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University (Gold Coast campus), QLD 4222, Australia
?) Joint first authors
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