Hendra Virus - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Hendra Virus Definition

Hendra virus, formerly called equine morbillivirus. Hendra virus is a paramyxovirus that causes encephalitis in humans and is transmitted from animals. Hendra virus is widely distributed in fruit bats in Australia, suggesting that fruit bats may be the natural host of the virus. Hendra virus-infected fruit bats have also been reported in Papua New Guinea. Hendra virus can be caused illness in horses and humans. Hendra Viral infection probably caught from horses.

Australian suburb in which the first known outbreak occurred in 1994. It is a newly recognized genus within the Paramyxovirus family that includes the measles, human parainfluenza, rinderpest, canine distemper, and respiratory syncytial viruses.

Hendra Virus Causes

Hendra virus is not host-specific, meaning it can infect more than one species of animal. There is no evidence of viral transmission to humans through the breath of horses, which may account for its limited incidence. Human-to-human transmission has not been reported. Henipavirus is a genus of the family Paramyxoviridae , order Mononega virales containing two members:

• Hendravirus
• Nipahvirus

The henipaviruses are naturally harboured by Pteropid fruit bats (flying foxes) and it may be characterised by a large genome , a wide host range and their recent emergence as zoonotic pathogens capable of causing illness and death in domestic animals and humans.

Hendra Virus Symptoms

The signs and symptoms may be progressed to coma in between 24 to 48 hours. Some patients have had a respiratory illness during the early part of their infections.

The other symptoms of the hendra virus may be included:

• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Irritability
• Seizures
• High fever
• Blood-tinged
• Nuchal rigidity
• High fever
• Headache
• Photophobia
• Muscle weakness.
• Respiratory distress
• Loss of consciousness

Hendra Virus Treatments

There is no specific antiviral treatment and no vaccine for the disease caused by Hendra virus. Due to its lethal nature and the lack of experience with the virus, supportive measures may offer only a minimal chance of survival.