Guest Speaker for Warwick Combined

06 Dec 2013

Dr Hume Field was guest speaker at the Warwick Combined Probus Club April meeting and luncheon.

When Vic Rail and 20 horses in his racing stable were infected by an unknown virus which is now known as the Hendra Virus, the link between horses and humans was not known. In an unusually speedy evaluation, the Queensland Government’s Animal Research Institute and the CSIRO Australian Animal health Laboratory in Victoria identified the virus and the link within eight days of receiving samples for examination. 

Vic Rail is widely considered to be the first victim of the virus, however a North Queensland farmer who assisted a veterinary surgeon to necropsy his horse a month before the events at the Hendra stable is now recognised as the first known case. 

Incidents of infection are irregular and unpredictable. In many years, there have been no known incidents. In 2011, there were 18, while there were eight in 2012. Already in 2013, there have been two incidents. 

Hendra virus cases can occur throughout the year, although the risk of infection appears greater in mid-year. Scientists are researching possible causes, such as whether flying foxes excrete more virus at this time, if the virus has greater survival in the cooler weather, or whether horses tend to crop grass closer to the ground due to scarcity of fodder. 

Hendra virus cases have mostly occurred in limited coastal areas of Queensland and New South Wales. There are no known incidents in other parts of the world, although a related virus is prevalent in some countries.

Veterinarians and horse owners are encouraged to suspect Hendra virus whenever a horse presents with acute illness and elevated temperature, heart rate and respiration. Anyone handling sick horses must manage the risk of transmission through use of personal protection equipment. 

Dr Hume Field is an internationally recognised authority on emerging diseases associated with bats. He is a veterinary epidemiologist with particular expertise in Hendra virus and Australian bat lyssavirus. His current research focuses on identifying risk factors for Hendra virus spill over. He is Principal Scientist in the Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases in Brisbane.

In the pictures: 

Arthur Maynard, David Free, Dr Hume Field, Don Crook and Ross Grayson at the Probus meeting prior to the Easter luncheon.

Back: Arthur Maynard, David Free, Dr Hume Field, Don Crook and Ross Grayson
Front: Gwen Free and Zel Crook at the Probus meeting prior to the Easter luncheon.