Horse Owner Survey on Hendra Virus This survey is aimed to assess horse owners’ husbandry management practices for their horse(s) and their perception and attitude toward Hendra virus. The information you provide will be used to inform support agencies on Hendra virus risk management planning and recommendations. In addition, this study will provide the opportunity to gauge the level of information on Hendra virus received by horse owners and whether an information gap exists. Your information will also be of value to those working in human health planning, and will help improve response to any similar threats in the future. This survey is being conducted and funded by the Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Biosecurity Queensland. The survey findings will be reported back to all leading support agencies including Biosecurity Queensland and Biosecurity New South Wales, and the horse industry sectors upon request. Complete Survey   Hendra virus – information for businesses that dispose of horse carcasses A plan should be developed for the transport and disposal of a dead horse that is suspected or confirmed to be infected with Hendra virus. The plan should include how the risk of disease transmission will be minimised to workers and others. Workers should then be trained in the implementation of the plan. The following measures should be considered:  Read More   Understanding Hendra Virus Alerts Qld Horse Council forward regular Biosecurity Qld Alerts during Hendra virus (HeV) incidents. The Alerts are only issued when there is a CONFIRMED Hendra virus incident.  Information contained in the Alerts will vary from incident to incident depending on the particular circumstances however there will be some standard information such as the general locality and the number of properties and horses involved.  The Alerts will advise if there are any properties quarantined.  The Alerts may give background information into the initial diagnosis including symptoms.    The Alerts may also talk about the following tests:   PCR Test: This test looks for direct evidence of the presence of HeV. It is conducted when horses are initially suspected to have the virus and is also used when monitoring horses during a HeV incident to detect infection in other horses as quickly as possible.   PCR tests can be conducted on a blood sample, nasal or oral swab, urine sample or tissue samples collected at post-mortem.   Indirect ELISA Test: This test looks for the presence of antibodies to HeV. This test is used for monitoring horses that may have been infected.  The ELISA test is conducted on a blood sample (serum).   When this test is used to monitor horses during a HeV incident, successive tests will be conducted as antibodies take time to develop following infection.   Hendra virus serum neutralisation test (VNT): This is a specific test for the detection of antibodies to HeV in serum. It is used for monitoring horses during a HeV incident once antibody development has occurred and is used for the final round of testing before allowing movement restrictions to be lifted on suspect horses.  This test is considered to be the definitive test to confirm that an animal has been exposed to Hendra virus. Following a positive VNT test, national policy requires that the subject horse be humanely euthanized.  Positive test results indicate that the animal has contracted the Hendra virus, negative results show that the animal did not.   Don’t Forget to Register your Property!!!!!!!!!!! Registering any property that has horses on it is a legal requirement, so even if your horses are on agistment, you need to make sure that it is registered. It is vital all horse owners find out the property number of where their horses are and store it in a safe place. Registration is free, there are no charges, and it is also a requirement on all waybills. Read more on PIC’s   Road Safety is no accident! Safety on the road encompasses a large range of issues from riding or driving your horse on the road, the transport of your horses in vehicles designed for them, to the education of drivers that have no knowledge of horses. As part of the horse community it is our job to behave responsibly and politely, to educate ourselves on correct procedures and the laws that govern safety, and also to pass on information to those outside the horse world on what is correct. The consequences to everybody when safety is ignored or not understood can be enormous. Whether mistakes are made through ignorance or arrogance matters very little when an avoidable tragedy has occurred.  The Qld Horse world is returning to work and the Show season and Pony Clubs are now up and running.  Not only are we riding more on the roads, but we will be travelling more with our horses.  Check out our Road Safety fact sheets – Road Safety for Towing and Vehicle and Float requirements.   Also learn about responsible riding and driving around horses Road Safety Horse Owners , Road Safety Drivers and the legal requirements  Division 2 Rules for people in charge of animals     Equine Emergency Rescue Read Flyer or Find out More     Don’t Forget HOSS!  Be informed, be aware and sign up for HOSS – Horse Owners Signal System. All we need is your email address and the Council where your horse lives – it’s FREE! Just click on his image and it will take you to the simple form to fill out.