Hendra in the Hunter Valley

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Zoonotic Disease Epidemiology
• One Health

Background:

• Hendra virus poses a significant threat to equine and human health.
• The Hunter Valley is a critical region for Australia's horse industry.
• Previous Hendra virus outbreaks have primarily occurred in Queensland.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the first equine Hendra virus case in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.
• To describe the public health and biosecurity response to the detected case.
• To assess the impact of the event on equine vaccination rates and identify potential virus reservoirs.

Main Methods:

• Case detection and epidemiological investigation.
• Biosecurity and contact tracing protocols.
• Monitoring of flying fox populations (black and grey-headed flying foxes).
• Analysis of equine vaccination uptake data.

Main Results:

• The first confirmed equine Hendra virus case in the Hunter Valley occurred in June 2019.
• No human or additional animal infections were reported following the initial case.
• Equine vaccination uptake surged by over 30-fold in the region within three months.
• Black and grey-headed flying foxes, known Hendra virus reservoirs, were identified in the area.

Conclusions:

• The interagency response, involving human and animal health sectors, was crucial for managing the event.
• The incident underscored the importance of ongoing surveillance and preparedness for Hendra virus.
• Strengthening One Health partnerships is vital for future zoonotic disease outbreak responses.