By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
SURVIVOR of the Hendra virus, Natalie Boehm, has urged owners to vaccinate their horses from the deadly illness. The warning comes as four horses on the New South Wales (NSW) mid-north Coast died from the virus in recent weeks.
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t, it’s a great vaccine. It is there to protect horses, people and the industry,” Ms Boehm, 26, said.
“If it was enforced before I became sick, I would be so grateful for it.”
Six separate properties in Macksville and Kempsey were affected in the recent outbreak, the latter being the furthest south that a known Hendra case has been diagnosed.
The Hendra vaccine was launched by manufacturer Zoetis in November last year, administered firstly to the problem areas in NSW and Queensland. Zoetis spokesperson Stephanie Armstrong said the vaccine was the surest way to protect horses and humans from a virus that is often difficult to identify.
“We staged a roll-out to the highest risk areas first because we wanted to prioritise those which had been affected,” Dr Armstrong said.
“In tests that have been done, and in field trials, it has shown it is 100 per cent effective. People shouldn’t relax, but it is certainly the most effective vaccine we have available.”
Dr Armstrong said there was still no definitive answer for why the virus, spread by flying foxes to horses, is found in some states and not others.
“We certainly have more cases this year than last and it seems to be spreading geographically,” she said.
“What we don’t understand is the virus’s limitations to this area (NSW and Queensland).”
Hendra virus was discovered in Queensland in 1994 and has killed four humans in the last 20 years, including renowned horse trainer Vic Rail, but to date there is no evidence of human-to-human or flying-fox-to-human spread of the illness.
Ms Boehm was working as a veterinary nurse in Brisbane when her clinic was put into lockdown due to a Hendra outbreak five years ago. While in hospital she was afflicted with extreme fatigue, encephalitis and partial loss of hearing as a result of the illness.
“You don’t know how important your body is and how you can take it for granted,” Natalie said.
“I was in hospital for six weeks and shouldn’t have walked out.”
