The Death Sentence

[Riot]

There is no question. Absolutely euthanize the horse.

[paisjpq]

forgive me because I am not really familiar with this virus, and the article leaves out some details that would be helpful to know...but I'm confused
when an animal recovers is it still considered an active carrier?
if so, why was the horse allowed to recover in the first place? why didn't they just put him down as soon as the diagnosis was made?
Quite frankly, if he is no longer contagious I see no reason to euthanize....however if the virus is something like EIA, that can't be "cured" then he's got to go...sucks, but it's a question of greater good. I've known perfectly healthy horse that flunk a Coggin's test and have had to be put down.

[my miss storm cat]

I don't have the answers, Thebby... was hoping someone could shed some light.

* * *

Virtual FormGuide

Racehorse Put Down Post-Hendra Virus
(no author listed)

A racehorse who survived the deadly Hendra virus has been put down because he posed a biosecurity risk.

Three-year-old colt Tamworth recovered from the virus that claimed the lives of four other horses at Redlands Veterinary Clinic on Brisbane's bayside.

But a Queensland Department of Primary Industries spokesman confirmed the horse had been given a lethal injection at 10.15am (AEST).

Experts from the Australian Animal Health laboratory in Geelong are now conducting a detailed post-mortem examination.

Biosecurity Queensland chief veterinary officer Ron Glanville said there was no other option.

"This is one of the world's deadliest viruses ... we know the percentage of recovered animals continue to carry the virus but we don't know what proportion that is," Dr Glanville told ABC radio.

"But we certainly know that it happens and there has been reappearances of the virus in that animal and that is a real risk.

"It was a tough decision ... but largely based on the opinion from the medical profession ... the risk to humans outweigh keeping the animal alive in the long term."

Dr Glanville said a range of tissues would be sampled under "very strict biosecurity restrictions".

Tamworth was put down against the wishes of his part-owner Warren Small, who was not convinced his horse was a threat.

"The last two generations of his family were 100 per cent runners to winners," Small told the ABC.

"It's impossible to say the horse was going to be winning races - it was debatable in what class of race he was going to win, but I did get offered after the races last start $195,000 to buy him."

[FGFan]

Sad and puzzling indeed.

I looked up hendra with the cdc here's the link:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/m...ages/nipah.htm

One of the three Hendra virus infections was marked by a delayed onset of progressive encephalitis. Serious nervous disease with Nipah virus encephalitis has been marked by some sequelae, such as persistent convulsions and personality changes.

So it seems that it really was the right thing to do, particularly as it is zoonotic and is transmitted through secretions, very hard to control.

Kind of sounds a bit like distemper, although different infectious disease. But I took in a litter of rescue pups that ultimately displayed distemper, never again took any animals from that shelter.
One pup never got sick or displayed any kind of symptoms, but a few weeks later began having seizures. After talking with the vets, while they may recover at best they are neurologically impaired for the rest of their lives, and they really couldn't say wether or not they may be carries. So althugh she seemed perfectly healthy except the seizures I had to put her down. This was my first and hopefully last experience with distemper.

Actually it was a nightmare for me as I had to nolvasan my entire garage and surrounding area. Thankfully I am not one that takes in rescues and lets them interact with others, I am one of the few that strictly quarantine, even going to the extreme of changing shoes and clothes. But I did have another litter of Dogo Mastiffs at the time that were very far away from the rescue litter and then had to revaccinate even all my adult dogs.

Really sad though for the owner that fought so hard, I can truthfully say I know the feeling.

[magic_idol]

Will spread my very limited knowledge on the virus.
Spread by bats, transfer is bat to horse which basically froths up has epilepictic spasims then dies !!!spread from horse to person in close contact with horse who can then die as was the case of a trainer & just recently another person was infected,
Cannot be as far as known transfered from person to person ,was named hendra virus which was were the first outbreak was reported which is a suburb of Brisbane (next to doomben & Eagle farm hence high concerntration of horses ) remains active in horses even though horse has recovered & yes they should have put it down as soon as discovered.

The main fear is if the virus mutates & travells human to human & what about the worker who got it that they released a week later does it stay with him ?

[Riot]

Queensland horse vet dies of Hendra virus (AAEP)

A Brisbane vet who fell ill with the deadly Hendra virus has died. Veterinarian Ben Cunneen contracted the virus in July after treating horses at Redlands Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Cunneen was a graduate of the University of Sydney and joined the Redlands clinic in the mid-1990s.

[magic_idol]

Originally Posted by Riot

Queensland horse vet dies of Hendra virus (AAEP)

A Brisbane vet who fell ill with the deadly Hendra virus has died. Veterinarian Ben Cunneen contracted the virus in July after treating horses at Redlands Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Cunneen was a graduate of the University of Sydney and joined the Redlands clinic in the mid-1990s.

yes was very sad Died about 3 weeks ago, Out of the 6 people that have caught it 3 have died