Update, July 2025: DPI confirms horse death from Hendra Virus in South East Queensland.
- Biosecurity Queensland has confirmed a Hendra virus case in a horse in south-east Queensland
- Biosecurity Queensland officers are working with Queensland Health and the property owner to ensure the risk is managed
- Horse owners are encouraged to vaccinate their animals while also taking precautionary steps to protect themselves from Hendra virus infection
Vaccination saves horses lives.
Maleny Vet Services strongly recommend your horse be vaccinated against Hendra virus. Vaccination saves time and allows us to treat your sick horse immediately and comprehensively. We want your horse to have access to the best treatments as quickly as possible.
Hendra Heros
During the month of September 2025, if you book a horse in with us for a Hendra vaccination where they have lapsed or are yet to start their annual schedule, we will administer their second booster for FREE (you will only incur the cost of travel to your property).
Unvaccinated sick horses require Hendra exclusion testing and the wait for results can be fatal. As some further background to our recommendation:
- Hendra virus is carried by flying foxes (fruit bats) and infects horses.
- Infected horses can then infect people.
- Hendra virus infection in horses is indistinguishable from other common illnesses and infections, especially in the early stages of illness.
- Testing horses for Hendra virus infection is expensive, time-consuming and delays the prompt and comprehensive treatment of your sick horse.
What to expect – Vaccinated Sick Horses
- Immediate access to vet care
- Immediate access to all treatments and diagnostics
- Immediate access to referral options
- Immediate hospital admission
- Immediate surgical options
What to expect – Unvaccinated Sick Horses
- Require exclusion testing
- Will have to wait for exclusion test results to come back
- Will experience treatment delays
- Will experience referral delays
- May deteriorate or die while waiting for exclusion test results
- Will undergo a period of “quarantine” while waiting for exclusion test results
- May not be covered by insurance if deemed to have deteriorated while waiting for exclusion testing results
Please call us on 5494 3622 to book your horse in for Hendra vaccination, or to discuss how we can include Hendra vaccination in a comprehensive annual health and dental package for your horse. More information on our horse and donkey health services is available to read here >>
