Australian Bat Lyssavirus kills horse
BIOSECURITY Queensland has confirmed the first horse which died at Highborne Farm in May tested positive to Australian Bat Lyssavirus.
Samples from the first horse were tested for ABLV after it was confirmed that the second horse that died on the property was infected with the virus.
Queensland's Chief Biosecurity officer Jim Thompson said Highborne Farm remained under quarantine, and no other animals on the property had shown signs of the illness.
"Biosecurity Queensland officers are continuing to work with the property manager and their private veterinarian to manage the situation," Mr Thompson said.
"We have undertaken an exposure assessment on remaining animals on the property.
"Information from this assessment combined with advice from Chief Veterinary Officers from around Australia has led to a management program including quarantine, isolation and vaccination of some animals.
"It is believed that the infected horses were most likely infected through being scratched or bitten by a micro-bat."
He said infected bats were rare, with less than 1% of free living bats thought to carry ABLV.
The virus has the potential to be transmitted from an infected bat to any mammal, including humans, and it is urged animal owners take all reasonable steps to keep their animals away from bats.
For more information on Australian bat lyssavirus, visit http://www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au or phone 13 25 23.
