Unexpected Result of Hendra Virus Outbreaks for Veterinarians, Queensland, Australia

Abstract

A qualitative study of equine veterinarians and allied staff from Queensland, Australia, showed that veterinarians are ceasing equine practice because of fears related to Hendra virus. Their decisions were motivated by personal safety and legal liability concerns.

A Recombinant Hendra Virus G Glycoprotein Subunit Vaccine Protects Nonhuman Primates against Hendra Virus Challenge

“…Notably, the first case of HeV seroconversion in a dog in Australia was also reported during these episodes (32). These latest findings, which have since repeated, have had a major impact on equine veterinary practices (33). Specifically, Australian veterinarians reduced or ceased equine medicine in order to avoid contracting HeV.…”

“…Specifically, Australian veterinarians reduced or ceased equine medicine in order to avoid contracting HeV. In order to address this problem, the Australian Government supported the commercial development of the sG HeV vaccine Equivac HeV for use in horses (28,33). The Equivac HeV vaccine was launched late in 2012 and is currently in use in Australia, with more than 150,000 horses vaccinated to date.…”

Public health ethics and more-than-human solidarity

“…Perhaps because two of the four people who have died of HeV were veterinarians who went off to work one day and caught the disease, some veterinarians have quit equine practice (Mendez et al, 2012), and many now refuse to treat unvaccinated horses (Mendez et al, 2013). Undoubtedly, these veterinary practitioners feel compassion for the sick horses, but they are unwilling to put themselves or their staff at risk, no matter what pleas and inducements horse owners put forward.…”

Hendra Virus

“…As a result, there was increasing pressure to instigate measures for the control or extermination of flying fox populations, in spite of their key environmental role in pollination of native forests and any attendant practical and ethical considerations. Mendez et al (28) also reported increasing numbers of veterinarians and other equine health care staff to be departing equine practice as they believed that they were unable to adequately manage HeV-associated risks and liability within their workplace. Follow-on effects included increased occupational risk for some equine veterinarians, especially practice principals who elected to undertake all the equine work themselves and those veterinarians who elected to work in a less than ideal environment to meet animal welfare needs.…”