In spillover, we meet the people who lived through hendra virus and ebola virus outbreaks as quammen meets them. Davies, the outbreak by glen johnson, elysium part. One confirmed case of hendra virus in a person is considered an outbreak. Nipah virus and hendra virus are closely related paramyxoviruses that emerged from bats during the 1990s to cause deadly outbreaks in humans and domesticated animals.
Human hendra virus encephalitis associated with equine. Hendra virus was first isolated in 1994 from an outbreak of disease in a racing stable located in the northern brisbane suburb of hendra less than 10km from the city centre. Although initially considered to be more closely related to members of the genus morbillivirus than to other genera in the family paramyxoviridae, subsequent studies showed limited sequence homology with respiroviruses, morbilliviruses, and rubuloviruses and negligible immunologic crossreactivity with other paramyxoviruses. Henipavirus ecology, molecular virology, and pathogenesis. As of november 2011 all events have occurred in queensland or nsw. At the time qdpi, queensland health and aahl tested more than 2500 horse samples and 150 human samples, however, they did not find any new cases. Hendra virus infection the center for food security and public. Safety of people is the primary consideration when investigating potential hendra virus hev cases in. To determine the epidemiologic and clinical features of a 2008 outbreak of hendra virus infection in a veterinary clinic in australia, we investigated the equine caseseries. That the lethal hendra virus could jump from australias flying foxes to its humans might seem like nothing more than bad luck, an unfortunate but inevitable consequence of contact with animals. Four have led to human infection and three of the six people to contract it have died.
Safety of people is the primary consideration when investigating potential hendra virus hev cases in animals. Hendra virus sampling, submission and testing warning. Henipaviruses form a new genus of emerging paramyxoviruses that are the deadliest human. In total at the time of writing there have been more than 87 confirmed cases in horses on 51 separate properties extending from far north queensland to the kempsey region of mid north coast new south wales. Between 1995 and 2007 biosecurity queensland reported seven cases of hendra virus infection in horses, however it wasnt until 2008 that another significant outbreak occurred. Summary of hendra virus incidents in horses business queensland. Lethal hendra virus outbreaks may be caused by man wired. Three horses have died of hendra virus over the past month in the macksvillekempsey area, as another animal remains under observation at a quarantined local farm. Nov 10, 2010 hendra virus hev was first isolated in 1994, from a disease outbreak involving at least 21 horses and two humans in the brisbane suburb of hendra, australia. Nipah virus is most closely related to hendra virus, which was first recognized in australia in 1994 during a respiratory illness outbreak among horses and humans. Nipah and hendra viruses are members of the henipavirus genus within the paramyxovirinae subfamily of the paramyxoviridae family. All of the hendra virus outbreaks have occurred along coast regions of queensland and new south wales in australia, with at least 29 equine cases and 7 human cases as of 2008. Nipah and hendra virus have 6892% amino acid homology in the proteincoded regions and 4067% nucleotide homology in the nontranslated regions.
Recovery of hendra virus infection in horses fortunately, this disease is only spread by contact with fluids from an infected or recently dead victim of the virus, so there are steps that can be taken to prevent the virus from spreading to either humans or other horses. In contrast to previous outbreaks, infected horses had predominantly encephalitic, rather than respiratory, signs. Most patients had contact with sick pigs or had been in close physical contact with nipah virus infected patients and then presented primarily with encephalitis. The outbreak was contained, and within days, a virus, the putative causal agent, had been identified. Survivors were euthanased according to the former national policy. Another outbreak of hendra virus infection came to light in october 1995 when hendra virus was detected in a farmer from mackay, queensland, some 600 miles north of hendra. Hendra virus was discovered following an outbreak of illness in horses in a large racing stable in the suburb of hendra, brisbane in 1994. Risk factors for nipah virus infection among abattoir. Nipah virus infection was first recognized in a large outbreak of 265 suspected cases in peninsular malaysia during september 1998 to april 1999. Hendra virus, first identified in 1994 in queensland, is an emerging zoonotic pathogen gaining importance in australia because a growing number of infections are reported in horses and people. The syndrome was characterised by severe respiratory signs and high. Hendra virus outbreak with novel clinical features, australia. The affected horses and humans all developed a severe but unidentified respiratory disease that resulted in the deaths of one of the human cases and the deaths or putting down of 14 of the horses. The natural host for hendra virus is the flying fox.
Hendra virus is a large, pleomorphic enveloped rna virus. Hendra is a deadly virus that is endemic in australia and is spread by bats. The progression of disease and timeline is highly dependent on dose and route of infection. Since hendra virus was identified in 1994, more than. Jul 09, 2018 hendra is a deadly virus that is endemic in australia and is spread by bats. Four of 5 infected horses died, as did 1 of 2 infected staff members. All yards are open, with yards 1922 having a roofed shelter within. Clinical manifestation in horses was predominantly neurologic. Although the source of 2019ncov is yet to be confirmed, early findings suggest a high possibility of a bat origin. The august 2007 outbreak in australia cawarral property a horse stud and nursery in cawarral, near rockhampton in central queensland and the site of the.
Hendra and nipah viruses are two highly pathogenic zoonotic members of the genus henipavirus, family paramyxoviridae, requiring work under biosafety level 4 conditions due to a. Overview of hendra virus infection generalized conditions. The farmer had been hospitalized with an undiagnosed encephalitic illness. The virus also naturally infects species of the family. Hendra virus infections in horses have been occurring since first encountered and recognised in queensland in 1994. National institute of allergy and infectious diseases niaidsupported investigators developed vaccines for nipah and hendra virus based on the soluble g glycoproteins of the. The outbreak resulted in death of a horse trainer and horses and left a stable hand seriously ill.
The history of the hendra virus outbreak has been most prevalent during queenslands autumn and winter months. A recent hendra virus outbreak at a veterinary clinic in brisbane, queensland, australia, involved 5 equine and 2 human infections. It is related to nipah virus, another species in the genus henipavirus. As the world watches the rapid spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus 2019ncov outbreak, it is important to reflect on the lessons that can be learned from this and previous emerging zoonotic viruses ezv in a comparative and analytic way. Summary of hendra virus incidents in horses business. Hendra virus confirmed near tweed heads a 4year old unvaccinated arab cross mare has been confirmed as being infected with hendra virus.
Hendra virus infection dynamics in australian fruit bats. Hendra virus antibodies have also been detected in dogs in two separate incidents, in 2011 and 20, but the animals themselves were asymptomatic. The role of animals in emerging viral diseases sciencedirect. Epidemiological perspectives on hendra virus infection in. Hendra virus is an rna virus that is a member of the paramyxoviridae family of viruses and is classified in the genus henipavirus. The table below shows the location and date of each confirmed and possible hev equine cases in queensland and new south wales, including clinical signs, observations in horses and other evidence. If you suspect your horse has hendra virus keep everyone away from the horse and call your.
The way kerala has handled the nipah virus outbreak holds crucial lessons for the rest of india. Hev was first isolated in 1994 from specimens obtained during an outbreak of respiratory and neurologic diseas e in horses and. The natural history of hendra and nipah viruses sciencedirect. The horse is assumed to have had hendra after the vet treating the horses died after being infected. Ecological studies of local australian wildlife implicated fruit bats of the genus pteropus as the primary animal reservoir for hendra virus 7. In the space of two weeks, the australian equine industry has been rocked by an escalating number of hendra virus cases. If you are concerned about your health, you should. Quammens spillover 2012 in light of the coronavirus outbreak. Risk factors for nipah virus infection among abattoir workers. Since the first outbreak there have been 12 clusters of hendra virus infection.
Quammen explores how and why this happens looking at examples like ebola, hendra, and sars. The virus, a member of the family paramyxoviridae genus henipavirus, is transmitted to horses by pteropid bats fruit bats or flying foxes, with human infection a result of direct contact with. The second horse was euthanised after the virus was confirmed. Hendra outbreak worst since original in 2011 coffs coast. Hendra virus outbreaks july 2016 scone equine hospital. Risk factors for nipah virus infection among abattoir workers in. I might have something that has killed three people, she said. This book consists of 14 chapters that discuss a range of important topics including bat.
A new frontier of emerging infectious diseases wang, linfa, cowled. For hendra virus, outbreaks occurred in horses, while for nipah virus, the domestic pig acted as an amplifying host. If an infection occurs, state and commonwealth government departments work as a team to locate and control the infection to reduce the risk of transmission. Hendra virus hev and nipah virus niv emerged in the last decade of the twentieth century as the causes of outbreaks of respiratory and neurological disease that infected a number of animal. Hendra virus, fruit bats, horses, epidemiology aust vet j 2007.
Summary of hendra virus infection events with numbers of equine cases, human cases, and human deaths, 19942011 to november 2011. Hendra virus hev was first isolated in 1994, from a disease outbreak involving at least 21 horses and two humans in the brisbane suburb of hendra, australia. The determination of the nucleotide sequences of nipah and hendra viruses were completed soon after the nipah outbreak in malaysia in 1998 harcourt et al. There was one hendra virus incident detected in queensland in 2010 and, to date. The following table outlines the hendra virus infection events that have occurred in australia.
Spillover is the phenomenon where a virus present in wild animals crosses over and begins to infect humans. Best fiction books about diseases or viruses 155 books. The virus can spread from flying foxes to horses, horses to horses and rarely, from horses to people. Abstract book of the xi international congress of virology sydney, australia. In june 2008, the virus claimed the lives of eight horses and a third person when an outbreak struck a redlands veterinary clinic. Hendra virus is listed as prohibited matter under schedule 2 of the biosecurity act 2015. The virus, a previously undescribed member of the family paramyxoviridae, was initially named equine morbillivirus, but was subsequently renamed hendra virus hev, after the brisbane suburb where the outbreak occurred. This ranges from historical factors such as animal domestication to the impact of. Hev was first isolated in 1994 from specimens obtained during an outbreak of respiratory and neurologic disease in horses and humans in hendra, a suburb of brisbane, australia. Hendra virus sampling, submission and testing business. The virus is a lethal zoonotic agent able to cause natural disease in humans and horses and experimentally induced disease in cats, guineapigs and mice. History of the hendra virus canberra equine hospital. Spillover is a history of the present and a speculation about our biological future. Animal infections and the next human pandemic by david quammen.
Jul 08, 2011 in the space of two weeks, the australian equine industry has been rocked by an escalating number of hendra virus cases. Individual horse stalls and yards are numbered 140. After an incubation period of 916 days, influenzalike illnesses developed in the 2 persons before progressing to encephalitis. Ecological studies of local australian wildlife implicated fruit bats of the genus pteropus as. Oct 28, 2014 a secret military swat team of soldiers and scientists is mobilized to stop the outbreak of this exotic hot virus. From 1994 to november 2018, there have been 61 known outbreaks of hendra resulting in the death of 103 horses, with a 79% mortality rate. Its as human a story as this current covid19 pandemic. It was later renamed hendra virus, after the name of the brisbane suburb in which the original outbreak occurred. Most have been as a result of spillover of infection from flying foxes also called fruit bats which are the natural hosts of this virus. Hendra virus research continues as more horses contract. Jul 18, 2019 it was later renamed hendra virus, after the name of the brisbane suburb in which the original outbreak occurred. Hendra outbreak worst since original in 2011 coffs. Books that deal with the spread of a virus or deadly illness that affects the world in a big way score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Situation upd ate from 1994 to 2016 inclusive, there have been more than 70 sporadic confirmed cases of hendra virus infection in horses.
Hendra virus hev was first isolated in 1994 in horses at a racing stable in hendra, brisbane. But i cant have a test yet because there is a fiveday incubation period. What you can learn about coronavirus from a brilliant book. Hev was first isolated in 1994 from specimens obtained during an outbreak of respiratory and neurologic diseas e in horses and humans in hendra, a suburb of brisbane, australia. Latest biodiversity information captured in new csiro book. The causative virus, now named hendra virus hev, is the reference virus for a proposed new genus within the virus family paramyxoviridae.
Priyanka pulla reports on how a deadly virus is being tackled by an alert administration. Hendra virus hev is a member of the family paramyxoviridae and one of two virus species in the genus henipavirus the other being nipah virus. Since the first documented outbreak in horses in 1994, hendra has killed 102 of the animals. In july of the same year, the first confirmed outbreak of hendra virus west of the great dividing range was reported in chinchilla, shattering perceptions that inland horse communities were safe from the virus. Hendra virus infection has been confirmed in two dogs on properties where horses had been infected with the hendra virus. As of september 2012, a total of thirtynine outbreaks of hendra virus had occurred, all involving infection of horses. Jan 21, 2020 the way kerala has handled the nipah virus outbreak holds crucial lessons for the rest of india. In australia, hendra virus originated in bats, and in 1994 crossed over. Horses, dogs and humans have been naturally infected with hendra virus, with high case fatality rates in horses and humans. Most patients had contact with sick pigs or had been in close physical contact with nipah virus infected. Hendra virus hev is a member of the family paramyxoviridae, genus henipavirus.
Layout of veterinary clinic where outbreak of hendra virus infection occurred in horses, australia, 2008. In this period queensland has recorded 40 outbreaks and nsw 21 outbreaks. The information and links on this page give you access to the latest advice from key agencies about hendra virus. The affected horses and humans all developed a severe but unidentified respiratory disease that resulted in the deaths of one of the human cases and the deaths or putting down of 14 of. For hendra virus, outbreaks occurred in horses, while for nipah virus, the.
Hendra virus was discovered following an outbreak of illness in a large racing stable in the suburb of. In addition, the hendra virus was detected in a dog, it was the first reported case of the hev antibody in a dog outside of an experimental setting. From bubonic plague to the spanish flu nature proves again and again that she is one step ahead of us in the battle with disease. However, until the natural history of swine nipah virus infection is better. With the cause of the disease outbreak known, aahl researchers developed diagnostic tests. The nipah virus outbreak in singapore was associated with importation and slaughter of. This hairraising account tells the dramatic story of that team and of the rare and lethal viruses and their crashes into the human race. What you can learn about coronavirus from a brilliant book about.
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