Saturday, June 9, 2012

An emerging zoonosis in Australia

 Hendra virus infection has been seen only in Australia. Hendra virus is a zoonotic pathogen that infects to humans and horses. Since the outbreak in 1994, at least sixty horses and four individuals had died. In addition, antibodies for this pathogen were also detected in a dog kept on a horse farm. It is considered that wild bats contribute to the transmission of this virus. 
 Hendra virus is a virus species within the genus Henipavirus, subfamily Paramyxoviridae, which is closely related to Measles virus and Canine distemper virus. Hendra virus causes respiratory diseases and also nervous diseases in humans and horses.
 Recently three outbreaks of Hendra virus infection occurred in Australia during this half year.

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