New Drug Used To Halt Virus Spread In Australia

In a bid to prevent the outbreak of a potentially deadly virus, a woman and a child in Australia have been administered an experimental drug so far only tested on animals. According to health department officials in the northeastern state of Queensland,  the pair were given the treatment, which has been tested on ferrets, to protect against the Hendra virus, which is spread to humans from horses.

“Queensland Health offered the mother and daughter preventative therapy treatment which is still under development,” a spokesman said.  It may be noted that the Hendra virus has killed four people in Australia since is was first documented in 1994. It is believed to be carried by fruit bats and spread via their urine, other bodily fluids and droppings. The bats then pass the infection to horses, possibly via half-chewed fruit or other water or food they contaminate, and these animals then transmit it to humans through close contact.

The mother and her 12-year-old daughter were potentially exposed to the virus after the girl’s horse died from the disease two weeks ago.  According to health officials, the duo was in good health and was showing no symptoms.

The Hendra virus is difficult to detect because it produces a range of symptoms in horses – none of which are exclusive to the virus – and the animal can be infectious for two or three days before it shows any symptoms.
The virus, which is believed to be unique to Australia, is named after the Brisbane suburb where it was first documented and can lead to fatal respiratory illness in humans and horses.