Horse owners in inland areas of New South Wales have been urged to take precautions following cases of strangles in the state, and the recent Hendra case in Queensland.
Belinda Walker, an animal biosecurity specialist with Industry & Investment NSW, urged horse owners in inland areas to take steps to reduce the risk of spreading disease.
She warned that one of the bat species capable of carrying the deadly Hendra virus appeared to be extending its range.
One horse died from Hendra disease last month on Queensland's Sunshine Coast and strangles infections were recently confirmed in horses on several properties in the Illawarra, Hunter and Armidale areas.
"These recent cases are a reminder of the need to reduce the risk of their spread in our own backyard," Walker said.
"While Hendra is a rare disease, its severity makes it a major concern. It can cause severe respiratory and neurological signs in horses, and is often fatal."
Horses have infected seven humans with Hendra, which is a viral disease, and four of those cases proved fatal.
Walker said Hendra was carried by flying foxes and virus was shed in all secretions.
"Hendra virus is not highly contagious, so contact with flying fox secretions is needed for a horse to become infected," she said.
"The risk of transmission can therefore be substantially reduced by simply ensuring that feed and water sources are kept undercover, and horses are kept away from fruiting and flowering trees that bats may frequent.
"Bats tend to suck the juice out of fruit and spit out the remains, and horses will often eat this.
"One horse owner recently told me that a local orchardist is in the habit of throwing apples spoiled by fruit bats over the fence to her horses. This is obviously extremely dangerous.
"The Grey Headed Flying Fox appears to be extending its range, so people throughout inland New South Wales should be on the lookout for this species.
"The Little Red Flying Fox - the most common species in inland areas - is more likely to be carrying active virus than other species because it has a short-lived immunity to Hendra virus."
Walker said the serious respiratory disease, strangles, unlike Hendra, is highly contagious and readily spread by movements of infected or recovered horses, or contaminated equipment.
"Horses can continue to spread the strangles virus for at least a month after recovery, and occasionally carriers develop that can spread the virus for many months," she said.
"Vaccination is available to protect against strangles and is recommended for horses that frequently mix with other horses at shows and other events.
"Both Hendra virus and strangles are notifiable diseases," she said.
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