Qld: Hendra claims third human life

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2008
Qld: Hendra claims third human life

Reissuing to correct dateline

EDS: Updates with government review information



By Paul Osborne

BRISBANE, Aug 22 AAP - Fourteen years after it was first discovered by scientists,
a new strain of the Hendra virus has claimed a third human life.

Sydney trained veterinarian Ben Cunneen died in Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital
on Wednesday night after being admitted with Hendra virus symptoms in mid-July and undergoing
intensive specialist medical treatment.

The virus first made headlines in 1994 when Vic Rail, the larrikin trainer of former
champion galloper Vo Rogue, died of a heart attack a week after being admitted to hospital
with symptoms of morbillivirus (Hendra virus).

The virus struck with similar flu-like symptoms to equine influenza (EI) in Rail's
Hendra stables, killing 14 horses and shutting down racing in Brisbane for three weeks.

One of Rail's staff, strapper Ray Unwin, also showed symptoms but recovered.

In October 1995, Hendra caused the death of cane farmer Mark Preston from Mackay.

The farmer had had close contact with two horses in August 1994 during their clinical
illness and when they were autopsied.

Subsequent tests from the dead horses revealed Hendra virus.

In January 1999, a horse from a property near Cairns died from the Hendra virus.

And in December 2004, the Hendra virus was confirmed in a dead horse from the Townsville area.

According to the CSIRO, in recent years there has been about one case a year, including
one in NSW in 2007.

The latest outbreak in Queensland which took the life of Dr Cunneen came only 10 days
after the state was officially declared free of EI.

In early July, Queensland's Department of Primary Industries confirmed a Hendra virus
outbreak after the death of two horses and it quarantined the Redlands Veterinary Clinic,
where Dr Cunneen worked.

Tests were carried out on 37 other horses at the clinic and the first round of human tests began.

On July 9, Biosecurity Queensland said the virus was a different strain to that found
in 1994. Horses died from neurological infections and not the classic lung infections.

Five days later preliminary tests on humans came back negative.

Dr Cunneen was admitted to hospital and tested positive to the virus, but was released
from hospital.

The next day, after preliminary tests on 37 horses at the clinic had come back negative,
Dr Cunneen was re-admitted to hospital after his condition deteriorated.

A nurse at the clinic also tested positive and was admitted to hospital, but she has
since been released.

A second outbreak of the virus occurred on a property in Cannonvale, in north Queensland.

One horse died from the virus and another was put down.

A second round of tests was conducted on staff and people associated with the infected
Redlands Veterinary Clinic horses as was a second round of tests on the 37 horses quarantined
at the clinic.

On August 5, the NSW Department of Primary Industries quarantined a stable next to
Ballina Racecourse as a precaution after one horse showed signs similar to Hendra virus
infection.

Ten days later, Brisbane racehorse Tamworth was put down - against the wishes of owner
Warren Small - despite recovering from Hendra virus which it contracted from the Redlands
clinic.

A female vet who euthanased Tamworth is undergoing tests in hospital and is being monitored
for the Hendra virus after a needlestick injury.

Australian Veterinary Association president Mark Lawrie expressed the shock of colleagues.

"We never want to imagine something like this happening to one of our colleagues, not
from just doing their daily work," Dr Lawrie said.

"Despite the best efforts of the veterinary hospital to do the right things in dealing
with the outbreak, to be impacted so tragically by the loss of one of their colleagues
and by the sad deaths of the horses as well, is overwhelming for all involved."

The Queensland government has now initiated an independent review of the DPR's emergency
response in the latest Hendra outbreak.

Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin has also written to his federal counterpart
Tony Burke to boost research into the baffling virus.

"I have asked that a high level working group be established with relevant government
departments, research groups and stakeholders," Mr Mulherin said.

"This group would work to identify further research opportunities as well as ways to
reduce the risk of Hendra transmission."

AAP pjo/cjh/cdh

KEYWORD: HENDRA DEATH (AAP BACKGROUNDER) (PIX AVAILABLE)RPT

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