In September 1994, a prominent Queensland horse trainer Mr Vic Rail, his stablehand, and most of his horses fell ill to a sudden and mysterious illness.
Within several days, the trainer and 14 horses were dead.
As the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) collected specimens from affected race horses and submitted them for testing at CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria, newspapers ran with headlines like 'Death virus cancels races, threatens Cup'.
AAHL's diagnostic team isolated and identified what proved to be a new virus that had not been reported anywhere else in the world.
Researchers initially named it equine morbillivirus, however, further genetic analysis showed that the most appropriate classification of the virus was as a new genus within the Paramyxoviridae family.
CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory has been actively involved in each recorded Hendra virus incident since it first emerged in 1994.
The name Hendra is now used, after the name of the Brisbane suburb in which the outbreak occurred.
The strength of AAHL's capabilities was clearly demonstrated by the manner in which the infectious agent was isolated, the disease reproduced in horses and the virus eventually identified using electron microscopy and gene sequence analysis.
With the cause of the disease outbreak known, AAHL researchers developed diagnostic tests.
QDPI, Queensland Health and AAHL tested more than 2 500 horse samples and 150 human samples, not finding any new cases.
Further cases (current 2011)
In the last 17 years, seven people have been confirmed to have been infected with Hendra virus, four of whom have died as a result of the disease.
In addition to the initial case in 1994, a farmer from Mackay died in 1995 and two Queensland vets passed away in separate incidents in 2008 and 2009.
There have also been 14 clusters of Hendra virus infection recorded in horses since the virus was first identified.
As a National Facility, AAHL provides diagnosis of emergency animal diseases, which includes:
index case confirmation national emergency response capability use of accredited and validated tests.
The facility has been actively involved in each recorded Hendra virus incident, working alongside Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries and Queensland Health.
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Unlike other Paramyxoviridae viruses which tend to be host-specific, Hendra can infect more than one animal species.
Scientists believe fruit bats are the natural 'hosts' of the Hendra virus, which means the virus is carried by bats but has little effect on them. However, when transmitted to humans and horses, the virus can be lethal.
Hendra virus is related to, but distinct from another paramyxovirus – Nipah virus, named after one of the Malaysian villages affected by the 1998–99 outbreak, Sungai Nipah.
The two viruses form a new genus, Henipavirus, in the paramyxovirus family.
Genetic characterisation shows the viruses vary by about 20 per cent. Their behaviour is also different, in terms of the species they infect and the way they seem to be transmitted.
Hendra virus does not transmit readily between animals other than flying foxes, while Nipah virus appears to be easily transmitted between pigs and possibly to other animals.
Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) research shows that horses, cats and guinea pigs can excrete virus in their urine. The virus isn't carried on the breath of horses. This helps to explain why Hendra virus isn't highly contagious.
The means by which Hendra virus has 'spilled over' and infected the horses in Australia isn't known. However, bat urine, aborted bat fetuses or reproductive fluids from bats infected with Hendra could have been involved.
In 1995 the AAHL research team was awarded the CSIRO Chairman's Medal in recognition of its work in identifying the new virus.
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CSIRO scientists at Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) have actively researched Hendra virus since they first isolated and identified it in 1994.
A team of around 10 scientific staff is working full time on Hendra virus research. These virologists and veterinary pathologists are supported by a large group of engineers, technicians and other support staff who operate and maintain AAHL's highly specialised maximum biosecurity laboratory and Large Animal Facility where this research is undertaken.
Since 2005 there have been a number of major research breakthroughs which have improved our knowledge of Hendra virus.
The first breakthrough involved an international team, including AAHL researchers, who identified the part of the cell membrane to which both Hendra and Nipah virus attach in order to enter and infect the cell.
This discovery accelerated research in many different areas, including the development of improved diagnosis, vaccine, and anti-viral drug targets.
The group at AAHL in collaboration with US scientists then evaluated a potential human vaccine to provide protection against both Nipah and Hendra virus.
The results of this research, published in July 2005, represented significant progress towards the development of a human vaccine to be used in the event of another natural outbreak, a laboratory accident, or deliberate misuse.
The second major breakthrough occurred in 2008 when an international research team, including AAHL scientists, evaluated a recombinant subunit vaccine formulation to protect a small animal model against the lethal Nipah virus. This research paper was published in the pre-eminent journal Vaccine in July 20081.
The ability to obtain protective total and mucosal immunity in the animal model provides significant progress towards the development of a human subunit vaccine against both Hendra and Nipah virus.
In 2009 a scientific team from CSIRO and the US demonstrated that administering human monoclonal antibodies after exposure to Nipah virus, which is closely related to Hendra virus, protected animals from serious disease in an infection model.
This research breakthrough in the fight against Hendra virus shows great potential to save the lives of people who become infected with the virus.
The results of this latest research were published in the open access journal PLoS Pathogens in October 20092.
The research was conducted in collaboration with scientists from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health in the US. AAHL researchers are studying bat ecology and the bat immune system to determine how viruses, such as Hendra, 'spill over' into humans and other animals.
In May 2011, CSIRO announced that a prototype vaccine for horses successfully prevented infection with the virus. This is important as it could break the cycle of the virus’ transmission from flying foxes to horses and then to people, as it prevents both the horse developing the disease as well as passing it on to people.
Further research is planned to develop improved high throughput screening tests to evaluate Nipah antivirals, and three different therapeutic approaches to combat Hendra virus including:
Scientists at AAHL are also studying bat ecology and the bat immune system to determine how viruses, such as Hendra, maintain themselves in bats and how they 'spill over' into humans and other animals.
Research to understand more about zoonotic diseases is also being undertaken, with a focus on the interaction of bats and viruses and identifying and characterising new and emerging infectious agents.
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CSIRO scientists who undertake research with Hendra virus and Nipah virus must work at Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) – the highest biosecurity level.
This requires scientists to wear fully encapsulated suits with their own air supply.
Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) provides a unique resource for Australia and its capacity to work with deadly BSL4 disease agents is arguably the best in the world.
AAHL is the only BSL4 laboratory in Australia that focuses on researching new and emerging exotic animal diseases.
1. McEacherna JA, Bingham J, Crameri G, Green DJ, Hancock TJ, Middleton D, Feng Y-R, Broder CC, Wang L-F, Bossart KN. 2008. A recombinant subunit vaccine formulation protects against lethal Nipah virus challenge in cats [external link]. Vaccine. 26(31): 3842-52.
2. Bossart KN, Zhu Z, Middleton D, Klippel J, Crameri G, Bingham J, McEachern JA, Green D, Hancock TJ, Chan Y-P, Hickey AC, Dimitrov DS, Wang L-F, Broder CC. 2009. A neutralizing Human Monoclonal Antibody Protects against Lethal Disease in a New Ferret Model of Acute Nipah Virus Infection. PLoS Pathog 5(10): e1000642. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000642. http://www.csiro.au/science/Hendra-Virus--ci_pageNo-1.html
Second hendra outbreak in Queensland Updated 10 minutes ago
Another outbreak... The hendra virus was first detected in September 1994. (7pm TV News QLD)
Authorities have confirmed that a second case of the deadly hendra virus has been detected at a property near Boonah, south of Brisbane.
Biosecurity Queensland says a horse at a Mount Alford property had been sick about two weeks ago and was euthanased.
Another horse fell sick yesterday and overnight test results confirmed it had contracted the hendra virus. It has since been put down.
Authorities have quarantined the property, which is about 70 kilometres away from Kerry, where a horse died from the virus last weekend.
The authorities say the two Queensland cases are not linked.
Eight other horses remain at the Mount Alford property and they will also be tested.
Biosecurity Queensland says it is trying to determine how many people could have been exposed to the sick animal in the latest case, while eight people were exposed to the sick animal at Kerry, in Beaudesert.
Initial blood tests for the eight people have come back negative, but it will take several weeks and more tests until the all clear can be given.
There has also been a confirmed case of hendra in northern New South Wales.
Lab tests show a horse on a property at Wollongbar was suffering from the virus when it was put down on Thursday morning.
The vet and eight other people who came into contact with the horse are now being closely monitored for signs of infection.
It is believed to be only the second known case of hendra virus in New South Wales.
A NSW chief veterinary officer said there was only one other horse on the Wollongbar property and it has been placed in quarantine.
Hendra virus was first detected in September 1994 at a property in the Brisbane suburb of hendra in an outbreak which killed 20 horses and one person.
There have been 14 outbreaks of the virus since. Four of the seven people ever diagnosed with the virus have died.
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