Hendra virus, for which nine people have undergone tests after they came into contact with an infected horse on the Sunshine Coast, might possibly pass on directly from bats to humans, the Queensland Horse Council (QHC) has said. Though six of those who were tested have been cleared post-preliminary testing, the results of three others are awaited.

Warning that the genetic structure of hendra virus is changing, Peter Reid, expert in the field from the QHC, says, "The next thing that could potentially happen is that we could have actual transmission of the virus directly from bats into humans as has been the case in the closely related disease Nipah virus overseas". In addition, potentially there could be human-to-human cases.

Seeking a $2 million funding from the Federal Government for the trials of a vaccine for horses, Dr. Reid says a vaccine has been developed but is yet to be tried on horses. The QHC is at a stage now where the CSIRO Animal Health Laboratory has wanted to get on and get some vaccine trials done in horses, affirms Dr. Reid, adding the trials have been hamstrung for want of funds.

Similar concerns were echoed by the Chairman of the Australian Racing Board, Bob Bentley. It's not just a Queensland issue… It's a whole of eastern seaboard issue - wherever you've got flying foxes, warns Bentley, adding an outbreak could easily occur anywhere, whether it is Victoria or north Queensland.