Hendra virus is a rare disease that can cause severe illness and often death in horses.
On this page
- Risk to human health
- Signs
- Where it is found
- Transmission and spread
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Protecting Canadian horses from Hendra virus
- Our response to an outbreak of Hendra virus in Canada
Risk to human health
Humans may become infected with Hendra virus through close contact with infected horses or their bodily fluids. To date, no human-to-human transmission of the virus has been documented.
Generally, infected people initially develop fever, headaches, muscle pain, sore throat and a dry cough. Hendra virus infection has been known to cause death. There is no human vaccine available.
Signs
The incubation period of disease in horses ranges from 5 to 16 days. Clinical signs include:
- fever
- anorexia
- lethargy
- increase in breathing and heart rates
- pneumonia
- frothy, clear to blood-tinged nasal discharge
Neurological signs may also occur.
Where it is found
Hendra virus was first discovered in 1994 in horses and humans in Brisbane, Australia. Natural outbreaks of the disease have been infrequent and reported only in Australia.
The virus has never been found in Canada.
Transmission and spread
The Flying Fox Bat is the natural reservoir of the virus. This means that infected bats seem healthy, but they can carry and spread the virus. Horses are the only species of domestic animal that are known to be naturally infected with Hendra virus. A horse needs to be in close contact with infected horses, bats or their bodily fluids to contract the virus.
Diagnosis
Hendra virus infection should be suspected in horses that have a short course of fever, difficulty breathing and then die.
Laboratory tests are necessary for a definitive diagnosis.
Treatment
While a vaccine is now available for horses, there is no treatment for the disease.
Protecting Canadian horses from Hendra virus
We place strict regulations on the import of animals and animal products from countries where Hendra virus is known to occur. These regulations are enforced through port-of-entry inspections conducted either by the Canada Border Services Agency or us.
In Canada, Hendra virus is an immediately notifiable disease under the Health of Animals Regulations. Laboratories are required to contact us regarding the suspicion or confirmation of this disease.
Our response to an outbreak of Hendra virus in Canada
Canada's emergency response strategy in the event of an outbreak of Hendra virus would be to:
- eliminate the disease; and
- re-establish Canada's disease-free status as quickly as possible
In an effort to eliminate Hendra virus, we may employ some or all of the following disease control methods:
- humane euthanasia of all infected and exposed animals
- surveillance and tracing of potentially infected or exposed animals
- strict quarantine and animal movement controls to prevent spread
- strict cleaning and disinfection of infected premises; and
- zoning to define infected and disease-free areas
Owners whose animals are ordered to be euthanized may be eligible for compensation.