The Queensland Government is conducting an inquiry into the Hendra virus vaccine and how it has been used. With over 1,000 known adverse reactions caused by vaccination, owners are refraining from vaccinating for Hendra,because they fear the severe adverse reactions, including death. several deaths have been categorised by APVMA as 'Possible' with relation to the Hendra vaccine.
Australian horse owners believe that all views and experiences pertaining to the Hendra vaccine and the resulting Government Laboratory’s exclusion tests for Hev should be considered by the Inquiry Committee.

Veterinarian services are being withheld from any Hendra unvaccinated horse, and/or any Hendra vaccinated horse that shows any symptom/s that a Vet deems to be that of Hendra virus. Symptoms are extremely broad ranging and include even the most common equine ailments. Treatment will only be afforded after the results of an exclusion test returns negative, which currently takes from 1 to 4 days, leaving many horses to die a very slow and agonizing death. To date, all horses that have had to wait for an exclusion test before treatment, have returned a negative result for the Hendra Virus.

There is currently a “No Vac – No Treat” policy in place by the vast majority of Qld. Veterinarians.  Precious few Vets are even willing to attend unvaccinated horses nowadays, but of the very few who will, upon arrival they will merely draw blood for exclusion testing, and may leave without even administering pain relief in some cases, because it is deemed by them to be an “invasive procedure”. As is, quite obviously, the initial drawing of blood for testing. Tragically, Vets may also decline to put a horse out of its misery, due to that also being deemed an “invasive procedure”.  In this situation, an owner is left with a manic, thrashing with pain, and panicked horse, that should morally be destroyed immediately, some having to take matters into their own hands.

Currently testing takes 1 – 4 days.  However, as a result of all recent tests on sick/injured being returned negative, horse owners have been advised that the Govt. Laboratory is proposing to remove the HeV test from being a “priority test”. In this event, it would then take 4 days for results to be returned.  This would ensure a certain, unnecessary, and, cruel death sentence, for many equines.  In addition, the human mental-health toll would be immense, for owners having to live through such an ordeal and/or deal with destroying their horse themselves.

The current and untenable situation for Vets and Horses:

·   Unvaccinated horses are required to undergo HeV exclusion testing before a Vet will treat.  This delay often results in death.  Five horses alone in the week ending 13/3/16, including a child’s vaccinated pony, suffered excruciating deaths over a prolonged period whilst awaiting exclusion results..

·   Vaccinated horses can also be required to undergo HeV testing prior to any treatment.  For example, if they are exhibiting one or more symptoms of the Hendra virus.  Additionally, whilst some Vets allow owners to stretch out 6 monthly booster shots to 12 months, in the event of that Vet being unavailable or away, and another Vet is called in who adheres to the strict protocols of Zoetis & APVMA involving 6 monthly boosters, such Vet may well require any vaccinated horse to undergo exclusion testing, thereby prolonging its treatment for 1-4 days which, again, often results in death. There could also be a situation whereby an owner of a horse may not be able to produce all relevant paperwork, and the Vet does not have with them a micro-chip reader to verify the horse’s current vaccine status on the database, hence an exclusion test may be required.  Furthermore,  Zoetis also publishes in the label accompanying the vaccine that it is possible for a vaccinated horse to still shed HeV.  Vets are also aware that no vaccine can ever be deemed to provide 100% protection, so it is therefore not unreasonable to request a vaccinated horse be tested prior to treatment if HeV is suspected.

·   There are a large number of horses who are stated by Zoetis to be “off-label”, and they are therefore precluded from receiving the vaccine.  This includes aged, infirm, and immunocompromised horses.  All of these horses too are required to undergo HeV exclusion testing, and are subject to the same outcome, likely resulting in death due to the long delay in receiving pain management and life-saving treatment.

We horse owners hereby petition the Queensland Government to once again support and adequately fund the “Rapid Stall-Side Exclusion For HeV Test” currently being researched and developed by Dr. Joanne Macdonald of University Sunshine Coast.  Once this test has passed all regulatory testing, and has been bought to market to form part of every Veterinarian’s “kit”, the Govt. Lab will only then be required to test a minute number of blood samples, mainly from isolated Veterinarians who travel hours to see their clients i.e. it is not feasible for them to draw blood, return to their practice to process same, and then again return to the sick/injured horse to render treatment.  However, to the vast majority of Veterinarians in Queensland & NSW, such a tool would be invaluable to every one of them, and our horses.  The Rapid Exclusion Stall-side Test has the potential to save many lives, both Veterinarians’ and horses’ alike.  To say many vets are excited and hopeful about the release of a Stall-Side Test is an understatement, because it will facilitate them being able to get back to work quickly, and efficiently.

Furthermore, we owners of unvaccinated, vaccinated and “off-label” horses ALSO hereby petition the Government of Queensland to facilitate 24/7/365 on-call emergency testing available for ALL horses, regardless of HeV vaccination status.  In most circumstances horses require immediate testing in order to potentially save their lives, unnecessary pain, suffering & ultimate death.  We petition the Qld. Government to leave such 24/7/365 on-call emergency testing in place & active until such time as the Rapid Exclusion Stall-side Test has been brought to market! 

Please feel free to leave your comments & experiences in comments below.  

The total number of people who sign this petition will be included in a submission to the inquiry and other public communications we undertake in relation to the inquiry. Your personal details will be kept confidential and only made available to members of the Agriculture and Environment Committee undertaking the inquiry. Those who choose to sign this petition are in agreement with all statements herein.