The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has confirmed the Northern Territory’s first detection of Hendra virus in a bat, following a positive test result on 11 December 2025.

Horse owners are encouraged to vaccinate their horses, particularly in areas where large bat populations are present.

Early signs of Hendra Virus in horses can include:

fever
increased heart rate
discomfort or shifting weight between legs
rapid or difficult breathing.

Steps horse owners can take to reduce risk include

preventing horse feed and water from becoming contaminated by flying fox droppings or fluids
isolating sick horses early while awaiting veterinary assessment
maintaining good hygiene, cleaning and biosecurity routines.

For more information visit the departments website by clicking this link https://daf.nt.gov.au/news/2025/first-nt-detection-of-hendra-virus-in-a-bat

More information about Hendra virus can be found on our resources page. Click this link to find more information about Hendra https://www.horsecouncil.org.au/resources