HORSE'S MOUTH
Australia
HORSE'S MOUTH
Australia
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HORSE'S MOUTH
Equine Hendra Virus - Some Legalities
Equine Hendra Virus - Some Legalities
In Australia
In Australia
Equine Hendra Virus - Some Legalities
Equine Hendra Virus - Some Legalities
In Australia
In Australia
SOME LEGAL OBLIGATIONS
Hendra virus is category 1 restricted matter, under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
As a horse owner or person who deals with horses, you have a legal obligation to take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or minimise the effects of a biosecurity risk (known as the general biosecurity obligation). Hendra virus poses a serious biosecurity risk. This means you are legally required to reduce the risk of Hendra virus infection and limit the spread of Hendra virus when dealing with horses and other possible carriers.
SOURCE LINK:
BIOSECURITY – WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
YOUR HENDRA VIRUS VACCINE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Dr Nathan Anthony BVSc (Hons) MANZCVS
Nathan is a member of the Australian Veterinary Association HeV Task Force, sits on the Pfizer Animal Health Infectious Disease Advisory Board, and is the Principal of WestVETS Equine Hospital & Reproduction Centre.
SOURCE LINK:
“Although Veterinarians treating sick horses are at the greatest risk of being exposed to the virus, infection risk also exists for horse owners, their families, and staff that may be in contact with a HeV infected horse. Equivac® HeV vaccination affords humans greater protection against the risk of HeV infection by blocking transmission of HeV from the horse to human”
WEB AUTHORS NOTE :
Dr Nathan Anthony sits on the Pfizer Animal Health Infectious Disease Advisory Board
Zoetis: on 26 March 2012, was incorporated in Australia under the name Pfizer Animal Health Australia Pty Ltd; on 11 February 2013, changed its entity name to Zoetis Australia Pty Ltd;
SOURCE LINK:
https://www.lhd.com.au/files/6715/6143/2336/FASOC-_sealed_5_June_2019.pdf
VETERINARIANS RESPONSIBILITIES
Veterinary practitioners and staff handling confirmed or suspected equine cases or conducting autopsies on the carcass of a confirmed or suspected case should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and take appropriate preventive hygiene measures (refer to the Biosecurity Queensland Guidelines for veterinarians handling potential Hendra virus infection in horses).
Horse owners or carers handling any sick horses should minimise unnecessary human contact and take appropriate preventive hygiene measures (refer to the Workplace Health and Safety Queensland Hendra virus - Information for horse properties and other horse related businesses) a veterinarian has a clear obligation under the Work Health and Safety Act to maintain the safety of the horse owner and others who are associated with the property.
Workplace Health and Safety case in relation to Hendra virus risks while treating horses
SOURCE LINK:
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cdcg/index/hendra
SOURCE LINK:
http://www.horsecouncil.org.au/news/whs-case-relation-hendra-virus-risks-treating-horses/
SEE ALSO :
HENDRA VIRUS INFECTION IN A VETERINARIAN Med J Aust 2006;
SOURCE LINK:
THREE QUEENSLAND VETS FACE PROSECUTION OVER HOW THEY MANAGED HENDRA CASES
SOURCE LINK:
DETAILS OF SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION AGAINST E196419
SOURCE LINK:
SEE ALSO :
http://www.horsecouncil.org.au/biosecurity/hendra/
INSURANCE
Some horse mortality insurance policies have a statement where an unvaccinated horse dies from a virus preventable by vaccination like the Hendra Virus can deny the claim. Check with your insurance provider to confirm the requirements of your policy.
It is probable that Veterinarian’s public liability policies may include similar exclusion clauses if they / their staff treat unvaccinated horses.
Check with your insurance provider to confirm the requirements of your policy.
LEADING STUD FARMS TAKE STAND AGAINST HENDRA VIRUS
AUSTRALIAN BREEDERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO VACCINATE ALL BROODMARES- July 2, 2019
SOURCE LINK:
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT - COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS AGAINST MANDATORY HENDRA VACCINATIONS
Vaccinating horses against the deadly Hendra virus should not be mandatory, a parliamentary inquiry has found. The Queensland Parliament’s Agriculture and Environment Committee made eleven recommendations from its eight-month inquiry into the Hendra virus vaccine and its use by veterinarians. They include changes to workplace safety laws to limit the liability of veterinarians when treating horses that may have the virus.
Committee Chair and MP for Gladstone, Glenn Butcher, says the inquiry recommendations are about saving lives.
“Hendra virus remains a risk for horses wherever there are flying foxes. Horses that get infected generally die. If people get the virus from infected horses they will likely die too, and there is no cure.”
“If people stop vaccinating their horses, we will see deaths from Hendra virus in Queensland again.”
Seventy-seven horses and four people have already died from the virus since 1994.
The committee has also supported the rights of veterinarians to refuse to treat unvaccinated horses.
SOURCE LINK:
http://www.horsecouncil.org.au/news/committee-recommends-mandatory-hendra-vaccinations/
NEXT - EQUESTRIAN AUSTRALIA'S POSITION ON HENDRA VACCINATION