Hendra Variant (HeV-g2) detected in horse in Newcastle suburb. Warning that any area where flying-foxes and horses co-exist may be at risk.

The Australian Veterinary Association has put out a release with information on the case of a horse found with a hendra variant in the Newcastle suburb of West Wallsend.

Some more information on the variant is available here.

Below is an extract from the Government information site.

A retrospective study has identified a variant of Hendra virus. The sample used for the study was from a horse euthanased in Queensland in 2015. Evidence of this variant virus, designated HeV-g2, was found in grey-headed flying-foxes from Victoria and South Australia.

These findings show that all areas in Australia where flying-foxes and horses co-exist are at risk of Hendra virus spillover.