Horse owners in Australia are now being put on alert for a deadly virus that has surfaced. Unlike most viruses that are only contracted by horses, this virus known as the Hendra virus, is also deadly to humans.
I would suspect that the virus will be hard to contain because it is spread by fruit bats. If urine or droppings from a contaminated fruit bat is on food or water that is then consumed by the horse, they will become infected. I see almost no way to know where or what these fruit bats have contaminated. Although, I am sure some areas are safer simply because there are less fruit bats.
The article Deadly horse virus spreads in Australia, reads as if the virus is not very common although 59 people have been exposed and over 1/2 of the people who have actually contracted the virus have died. That makes it scarey even if it is not wide spread.
Be sure to go over to read the full article. Knowing about the virus may be what saves your life.
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