LEADING Northern Rivers trainer Matthew Dunn is “fairly confident” precautions he has taken at his Murwillumbah stables are enough to prevent the deadly Hendra virus infecting his horses.

Mr Dunn’s statement follows the discovery of a new hendra case on a Currumbin valley property yesterday.

Queensland chief veterinary officer Rick Symons said Biosecurity Queensland officers had quarantined the property.

“We understand there are a number of other horses on the property and full tracing is being under- taken to assess if these or any other horses have been in contact with the infected horse,” Dr Symons said.

Queensland Health chief health officer Jeannette Young said staff were on the property to assess the situation and whether any testing or treatment was required.

“Preliminary advice shows there have been two people who may have had limited contact with the horse,” Ms Young said.

Meanwhile, in Murwillumbah, Mr Dunn and his staff have been diligent in their efforts to prevent the 45 horses at his stables from coming in contact with flying fox droppings.

“All of our food and water is kept under cover; obviously we ensure that no animals which can fly can get into the feed and water areas,” Mr Dunn said.

“On the rare occasions when we take the horses out for bit of a pick (of grass) they are allowed to do so on patches which are not under trees.

“That obviously lessens the chances of the horses cropping grass which could be infected with droppings.

“But no matter what precautions you take you can never be 100% certain that you can prevent the horses from contracting the virus.

“I know that authorities are well down the track coming up with vaccine to combat hendra, but the sooner it becomes available the better.

“I shudder to think that one of our staff could become infected and die.”

Nine locations in Queensland have had confirmed hendra virus cases this year including Beau- desert, Mt Alford, Park Ridge, Kuranda, Hervey Bay, Boondall, Logan, Chinchilla and the Gold Coast.

A total of 19 horses infected with hendra have died or been put down since August 18 – 10 in Queensland and nine in NSW (including three horses at South Ballina and Mullumbimby last week).

The natural host for hendra virus is the flying fox. The virus can spread from flying foxes to horses and, rarely, from horses to humans.

While the exact route of infection is not known, it is thought that horses contract hendra virus from eating food contaminated by flying fox urine, saliva or birth products.

Hendra virus was first discovered in September 1994 when Brisbane horse trainer Vic Rail, a stable hand, and most of his horses fell ill to a sudden and mysterious illness at his stables in suburban Hendra.

Within several days Mr Rail and 14 horses were dead.

Research and testing has shown no evidence of hendra virus occurring naturally in any other species.

There have been seven confirmed hendra virus infections in humans, all in Queensland, four of whom have died.