Cats Could Pass On Hendra Says Chief Vet

[k9angel]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/12525381/cats-could-pass-on-hendra-says-chief-vet/

Domestic cats have the potential to contract the fatal Hendra virus and pass it to humans, Queensland's chief veterinary officer says.

Dr Rick Symons says studies are being done to better understand how Hendra spreads, its effects on family pets and how dogs and cats can pass the virus to humans.

"The limited information we have is that it doesn't seem to affect the dogs," Dr Symons told AAP.

"Cats can certainly get it and spread it.

"There is work on other species.

"Ferrets can get it and other animals can get the virus."

Hendra is just one of a number of deadly bat-borne diseases that have claimed more 1000 lives in just over a decade.

Scientists have linked the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which caused more than 900 deaths, and Nipah virus, which has claimed more than 100 lives, to bats.

Scientists report SARS was carried by bats and most likely passed on to civets which were eaten by humans.

Mr Symons acknowledged the similarity between the way Nipah virus was initially spread by sick pigs to humans, and how Hendra has spread from sick horses to humans.

Even though Hendra has claimed four lives in Australia, he said the virus was now being managed far more effectively than in the past and culling flying foxes was unnecessary.

"They (flying foxes) do carry diseases that can kill people, but it's about not getting rid of bats, it's about managing the issue," Dr Symons said.

"Humans carry diseases around all the time. We don't cull them because they carry diseases.

"Dogs and cats carry diseases that can kill humans, but we don't cull them."

Federal independent MP Bob Katter wants to give every Queenslander the right to kill or remove deadly animals, in particular flying foxes, from their property.

The Katter's Australian Party leader announced the policy at a Gold Coast home that has been at the front line of Queensland's undeclared war on bats.

Mr Katter referred to scientific reports that have linked bats to the origin of SARS, Leptospirosis and Nipah virus.

"We will provide every landowner with the right to have control over his backyard," he told reporters.

"So if he decides to remove a deadly animal, like this bat up here, or a snake, it's his backyard, not the crown's."

He said flying fox numbers should be cut back to pre-European settlement numbers as they were wildly out of control.

A Townsville vet is one of 10 people being tested for Hendra following the latest outbreak of the disease on Tuesday.

The virus killed a horse on a property south of Townsville, which has now been quarantined.

Queensland Environment Minister Vicky Darling said culling flying foxes would have a devastating effect on the environment.

"Councils across the state have approval to manage flying foxes and my department has issued damage mitigation permits to four councils last year alone," Ms Darling said.

"A cull would raise significant public safety and animal welfare issues, would be grossly irresponsible and quite honestly, would not work."

[LouBon]

Excellent. If Katter had his way, I could invite him over to my backyard and do away with him once and for all. What an ill informed dumb$^*% moron.

As a side note- Hendra is not passed onto humans by bats... it's passed through horses ( from an infected bat ) to humans.

[asal]

interesting he says dogs dont pass it on?

not what the family who were pressured into putting their kelpie down dont need to find out after the fact

[german_shep_fan]

interesting he says dogs dont pass it on?

not what the family who were pressured into putting their kelpie down dont need to find out after the fact

Wasn't it revealed that samples got switched or something dodgy happened with that? It would be just awful to find out that the dog was actually never carrying it

Edited January 14, 2012 by german_shep_fan