The emergence of Hendra virus in Australia

Hendra virus is also known as a zoonotic disease. It passed from an infected horse to a human and the first case was reported in 1994 in Queensland, Australia. People who had close contact with the infected horse were been affected with Hendra virus and there was no medical treatment available at that particular moment. The major complication of Hendra virus was fatal and fatigue until 2012, there were no vaccinations available. The best way of defense was to avoid contact with infected horses. If one of your horses gets sick, then seek immediate advice from your veterinarian, to check whether your infected horse is suffering from the Hendra virus or not. If your infected horses suffer from Hendra virus then immediate vaccination is required to be procured as it is one of the contagious viral diseases which spreads from infected horses to humans & which happens through infected horses. The first case of Hendra virus was discovered in 1994 in Queensland when a horse trainer got infected with Hendra Virus through his 14-year-old horse who was infected & soon died. There were multiple cases where people got infected with the Hendra virus and recorded death. Till now, four deaths have been counted in Australia due to the Hendra virus that to in the years 1994, 1995, 2008, and 2009. Major cases were fetched from Queensland.

The symptoms of Hendra virus in horses are as follows:

• High body temperature
• Rapid heart rate
• Balancing difficulties.
• Muscle twitching.
• Frothy nozzle mucus
• Rapid deterioration.
• Rapid Sweating
• Heart rate, etc.

Symptoms of Hendra virus in humans:

• Unusual sleepiness
• Fever
• Confusion
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Dry cough
• Difficulties in breathe
• Sore throat.

Hendra virus is not particularly an infectious disease but it doesn’t mean that its exposure, cannot cause infection. The symptoms of Hendra virus infection can be observed from 5 to 16 days or up to 21 days. There are no such shreds of evidence that this virus cannot be passed from one human to another human host. Scientists are still discovering the reservoirs of Hendra virus in Australia, considering the current research it can be considered to be a fruit bat or flying fox which appears to be carrying this virus without suffering any ill effects. One theory also suggests that the horse may get infected through fruit contaminated with the infected body during the dropping of saliva. This virus in the horse body fluids got mixed up and caused the infection to the horses and transmitted to persons or humans during close contact.

Diagnosis of Hendra virus is as follows:

• Medical history
• Physical examination
• Biopsy of infected tissues
• Blood test
• The lifestyle factors, such as degree of contact with horses.

The treatment for Hendra virus is as follows:

• Hospital admission and close monitoring
• Life support if necessary, for example, mechanical ventilation, drugs, and fluids, deuces according to the complications.