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Hendra virus
Epidemiology:
- found in India, Australia, Indonesia, Madagascar, & southern China
- infects humans & horses
- human infection rare, 7 cases reported [1]
- transmitted from exposure to body fluids & tissues or excretions of infected horses
- horses may be infected after exposure to virus in the urine of infected Pteropid fruit bats (flying foxes)
- no human-to-human transmission reported
- reservoir: flying foxes
Clinical manifestations:
- incubation of 9-16 days
- respiratory tract infection
- severe influenza-like signs & symptoms
Laboratory:
- handling Hendra virus needs to be done in high containment laboratory
- Hendra virus RNA - serum, CSF or throat swabs
- Hendra virus antibody - acute & convalescent serum & CSF
Complications:
- viral encephalitis
- case fatality 4/7 = 57%
General
Henipavirus
Properties
KINGDOM: virus
GENOME-TYPE: RNA
SINGLE-STRANDED
NEGATIVE-STRAND
GENOME-SIZE: 16-20 kB
ENVELOPE: PRESENT
CAPSID-SYMMETRY: HELICAL
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Hendra Virus Disease (HeV)
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/hendra/