By Kim Honan and Eliza Goetze
The manufacturer of the Hendra vaccine is surprised it has taken this long for the deadly virus to reach the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, and along with a Newcastle equine vet, is encouraging horse owners to vaccinate their animals.
Until a 25-year-old mare was euthanased on a property near Scone a week ago, the most southerly case had been at Dondingalong near Kempsey where a horse died in 2013.
But Zoetis Australia’s veterinary operations manager, Richard L’Estrange, said there is a risk of Hendra anywhere horses and flying foxes co-exist.
“The DPI [NSW Department of Primary Industries] published material about four years ago showing that there were significant amounts of Hendra virus being excreted by flying foxes in the Hunter Valley — specifically in Singleton in their study,” he said.
“So I’m slightly surprised that it took another four years before we had a case.”…
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