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Friday, July 27, 2012

Two horses destroyed after showing Hendra symptoms at Australian farm

   2012-07-27 15:18:07        
BRISBANE, Australia, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Biosecurity Queensland in Australia confirmed on Friday that two horses had been euthanized on a quarantined property near Rockhampton where a foal died of Hendra virus infection a week ago.
Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer Rick Symons said the two had clinical signs of the virus infection.
He said the horses suddenly became ill showing nervous signs and were destroyed at the owner's request to prevent further suffering.
"There are no more horses on the property, but there are still two dogs," Symons said in a statement.
"They are being monitored daily and the property will remain under quarantine until late August."
Symons said three properties near Queensland's Mackay were also under quarantine after a confirmed case of Hendra virus in June.
A woman who nursed the sick foal on her property before it died was cleared in a first round of medical tests.
Hendra is usually passed from bats to horses, and then to humans.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/health/2012-07/27/c_131743095.htm