A second case of the potentially deadly Hendra virus has been confirmed in Queensland.
A horse became ill at a property at Mount Alford, south of Brisbane, on Friday and was euthanased.
“Test results overnight have confirmed this as a case of Hendra virus infection,” Biosecurity Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Rick Symons, said in a statement.
A second horse at the property also fell ill on June 20 and was euthanased, but it is not clear yet if it too had Hendra.
Eight other horses on the property are being tested for the virus and investigations are underway into if they had come into contact with any other horses at adjoining or nearby properties.
It is unclear how many people have come into contact with the infected horse.
Officers from Biosecurity Queensland and Queensland Health will speak with people who treated the animal to determine whether anyone may have been exposed.
The incident is about 70 kilometres away from where another horse died of the virus last Sunday.
Two properties where that horse stayed in Kerry and Biddaddaba, also south of Brisbane, are under quarantine.
Biosecurity Queensland said on Saturday a third property is now also under quarantine, but didn’t say where.
Two people and 30 horses, who had contact or who were in the vicinity of the horse, are being tested for the virus.
Biosecurity Queensland said there were no links between the Beaudesert and Mount Alford cases.
Meanwhile, the virus has also hit New South Wales, with a horse put down on Thursday morning.
The property where it lived near Wollongbar in the north of the state has been quarantined.
Nine people who had been in close recent contact with the horse are being monitored for ill health.
AAP TURF
