EQUINE experts are urging locals to vaccinate their horses against the deadly Hendra virus.
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And owners who have already vaccinated their horses should consider booster shots because the Hendra vaccination is effective for only six months.
The warning is issued by Equine Veterinarians Australia.
Veterinarian Andrew Clarke, from Bonnells Bay and Cooranbong Animal Hospitals, said horses infected with the disease can show a variety of symptoms.
Early signs include fever, increased heart rate and restlessness.
Other common symptoms include neurological signs such as an unco-ordinated gait and muscle twitching, which can quickly lead to death.
The virus is also deadly to humans, who can catch the virus through contact with an infected horse.
Moreover, horses can spread the disease while it is in the incubation phase.
"That's dangerous, because the horses are not clinically showing any symptoms of the infection yet," Mr Clarke said.
It is a personal choice to vaccinate horses against the Hendra virus.
However, many organisations such as pony clubs and Equine Psychotherapy Australia will not accept horses that are not vaccinated.
Mr Clarke said he didn't want to scare people into vaccinating their horses, but wanted to spread awareness about the impact of the disease.
"Realistically, it's just not worth the risk [to not vaccinate]," he said.
Anyone concerned about side effects from the vaccine need not worry, Mr Clarke said.
"In my experience, reactions have been rare and minimal - occasionally a horse might be off its feed for a day, but that's it."
The virus is spread to horses by flying foxes. Horses ingest the flying foxes' droppings and urine while grazing.
Lake Macquarie is home to a large population of flying foxes, which can travel up to 20 kilometres a night.
Mr Clarke said areas with relatively few flying foxes were still at risk of exposure to the virus.
"Flying foxes migrate from area to area, eating all the food available before moving on - they could be here one day and gone the next."
So far there have been no reported cases of Hendra in the Hunter region, but Mr Clarke said that was no reason to be complacent.
"Twenty or 30 years ago, heartworm was primarily a subtropical disease - now it's nationwide."
■ For more information about the Hendra virus go to health4horses.com.au.
Need to know
■ Since 1994 there have been 90 cases of Hendra virus causing equine deaths in Queensland and as far south as Kempsey, NSW.
■ About 75 per cent of horses infected with the virus die.
■ Seven Australians are known to have been infected with Hendra. Four of them died.