Vaccine Needed
AAP: Dave Hunt

Money raised to develop Hendra virus vaccine

14-Apr-2010: The Queensland Horse Council (QHC) is trying to raise $1 million so a Hendra virus vaccine can be developed and trialed on horses.

Four people have died in 15 years from the illness including a Rockhampton vet last year.

The CSIRO and other researchers have developed Hendra vaccines to protect other animals but they need more money to develop a vaccine specifically for horses.

QHC spokesman Peter Reid says the industry wants to help.

"What it will mean is that people dealing with horses won't have this spectre of potentially being infected by their association with their own horses," he said.

"It will also help protect horse industries like the racing industry where there is potential for horses to become infected and for potential infection of humans."

The CSIRO says the extra funding could help deliver a vaccine eight years sooner than expected.

CSIRO spokeswoman Debra Middleton says it could be ready within two years with the additional funding.

"Horses are the key species in preventing spillover to humans if we can control the disease in horses we can not only protect the health of horses we can protect the health of people," she said.

The brother of a vet who died from the Hendra virus has welcomed the move to raise money to develop a new vaccine but says more research is needed.

David Rodgers says the horse vaccine is a start but there is still a risk to humans.

"Currently we only know of bat, to horse, to human transmission," he said.

"I'm personally very concerned about mutations occurring in the virus that many enable direct bat to human transmission or human to human transmission.

"If that occurs then the human race has got a lot to be wary of."



Author: Stephanie Smail (ABC News)