Support needed to stop the Hendra Virus

The University of Queensland has established the Alister Rodgers Memorial Hendra Virus Research Assistance Fund to work towards a solution to the problems of Hendra virus.

Hendra virus has claimed the life of a second veterinarian, Alister Rodgers creating urgency to win the fight against this deadly virus.

The Head of the UQ School of Veterinary Science, Professor Jonathan Hill, said that a coordinated approach to fighting Hendra virus was needed to fill in the knowledge gaps to protect people from acquiring the disease from horses.

Currently UQ is working with Biosecurity Queensland and the Australian Biosecurity CRC to accelerate research into the Hendra virus.

Creation of a research centre with a focus on emerging diseases such as Hendra virus would consolidate knowledge, coordinate research activities and be a conduit for information exchange with the equine industry, veterinarians, research institutions, government departments, and public health authorities.

“With the assistance of the community and government funding, a research centre supported by the Alister Rodgers Memorial Fund will bring us closer to winning the fight against this deadly virus preventing future tragic deaths from occurring,” Professor Hill said.

Additional research activity would focus on infection prevention and control procedures for people in contact with horses and bat virus ecology.

It would also focus on post-exposure prophylaxis for people to prevent viral infection and on developing an equine vaccine stage 1 business case to classify development of the vaccine as commercially viable or as non-commercial (public funds required).

Professor Hill said the UQ School of Veterinary Science within UQ was well placed to ensure this collaboration occurred, generating research to address both the human and animal health issues.

Donations to the Alister Rodgers Memorial Hendra Virus Research Assistance Fund can be made by contacting the University Advancement Office at the University of Queensland, on (07) 3346 3900 or by specifying the fund online at https://www.uq.edu.au/secure/donations/appeal.html.