Hendra virus – information for industry - 9 June 2010
Posted by QLD Horse Council, 10 Jun, 2010
Horse Health, Performance Horses, Performance Stallions
New funding for Hendra virus research announced
The Bligh Government has announced a $1.5 million investment over 3 years in the 2010-11 State Budget for the establishment of a new Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases (QCEID) to continue the fight against Hendra virus.
Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries, Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said that with the closure of the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre at the end of June, the Government has acted to ensure that the potentially-lifesaving research can continue.
"As we have seen recently, Hendra virus cases in horses and people occur primarily in Queensland, which is why Queensland is at the forefront of research into how best to combat the disease," Mr Mulherin said.
"Biosecurity Queensland has world recognised experts in flying fox and emerging disease ecology and epidemiology.
"The new funding will allow this important work to be expanded.
"With the establishment of QCEID, Queensland will be positioned as a national and international leader in the field of emerging infectious diseases.
"This research is critical in terms of finding answers to the question of why horses contract Hendra virus and how to prevent this happening.
"This research accompanies the Bligh Government's ongoing community engagement program promoting Hendra awareness, precautions and preparedness for those in contact with horses.
"The new $1.5 million in funding to establish QCEID will augment the government's existing investment of $1.5 million from Queensland Health and $1 million from Biosecurity Queensland, over the next three years to establish the Centre at the soon to be opened $100 million Health and Food Sciences Precinct at Coopers Plains," he said.
Mr Mulherin said Biosecurity Queensland is recognised as a world leader in the research and understanding of Hendra and related viruses and their behaviour in the flying fox host.
"Biosecurity Queensland scientists are actively involved in cutting edge research into the virus, its hosts and its behaviour," he said.
"We already have a significant degree of understanding about Hendra virus.
"This information is invaluable in implementing simple protective measures to minimise the risk of infection in humans.
"We have already spent over $3.8 million on Hendra-related research.
"Current research projects include a study of bat-virus interactions to better understand the virus and the disease it causes by using infra-red, time lapse photography to capture night-time interactions between horses and nocturnal wildlife species.
"There is also a project proposal to identify Hendra virus strain diversity in Australian flying foxes.
"A focus will also be placed on social research to better understand the attitudes of horse owners to Hendra virus.
"The Bligh Government also committed $300,000 last month; to be matched by the Australian Government, to allow the Australian Animal Health Laboratory to test the effectiveness of newly developed Hendra vaccines in horses.
"This is an investment in the safety of Queenslanders and the sustainability of horse-related industries."
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Contact: Debbie Dekker
Website: www.qldhorsecouncil.com/default.aspx
Address: Private Box 1110, UQ Gatton, Gatton, 4343
Phone: ph 54646785
The Queensland Horse Council (QHC) Inc is focused on investigating and representing issues for the general good of all sectors of the Horse Industry and does not seek to interfere with the internal functioning of individual organizations. The QHC does not organise equestrian events and is not a breed registry. The Council has been in existence since 1986 and is made up of individuals,... More Info
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