Hendra virus

Current Situation

All known Hendra virus cases have occurred in Queensland or northern NSW, but cases could occur wherever there are flying foxes or in horses that had recent contact with flying foxes prior to movement. The most southerly cases to date (updated 2025) are near Scone in the Upper Hunter Valley (2019) and near Newcastle (2021 and 2023).
Hendra virus infection was first recognised in 1994 in Australia, when it caused an outbreak of acute, fatal respiratory disease that killed 14 horses and one human. Of the 89 outbreaks recorded up till December 2025, twenty six (26) have been in coastal NSW. Clusters of cases have occurred from time to time but most outbreaks have involved single cases and have occurred during winter.
Most spillover events have been associated with Black headed Flying Foxes but HeV-g2 has been also been detected in urine of Grey Headed Flying Foxes and in a clinical case near Newcastle in 2021 (and retrospectively in ahorse from Gympie, Queensland in 2015) suggesting GHFF may be also involved in some spillovers.
Hendra infection has also been detected in two dogs that were in close contact with infected horses. Both dogs remained clinically normal with no history of related illness.
Seven cases of human infection have been detected. Four of these cases have been fatal.
Updated statistics on Hendra virus outbreaks may be found on the Summary of Hendra virus incidents in horses | Business Queensland.

Clinical signs

Clinical signs are highly variable but usually have a very rapid, acute onset and range from mild to severe. The incubation period for Hendra virus in horses ranges from 5 to 16 days and the fatality rate is over 70%. Signs consistent with colic have been the initial sign described in many cases. Dead horses may appear to have met with misadventure. Many horses are found dead with few, if any, prior signs.
More information on the clinical signs seen in Hendra virus cases can be found in PRIMEFACT- Hendra Virus.

Control

Infection control practices to minimise Hendra virus risks include wearing suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect against contact with the horse and its blood and body substances, and adopting personal hygiene and decontamination practices. All persons who are at risk, including assisting persons, should be properly protected.
No vaccine is currently available for use in humans.
A vaccine against Hendra virus has been developed for horses and is commercially available.
Find out more information on the vaccine in the Animal Biosecurity Hendra Virus EAD Page under "Other Key Information and resources".

Investigation of suspected Hendra cases

Veterinarians should take rigorous biosecurity and safety precautions. This includes doing a risk assessment and deciding on suitable control measures. Also see Hendra virus Work Health and Safety responsibilities () PDF, 107.96 KB.

Veterinarians should consider entry and exit procedures, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfectants, disposal of potentially contaminated materials and packing and dispatch of laboratory samples.

More information on PPE can be found in the Primefact Hendra virus – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and decontamination procedures for property owners

Hendra virus is readily detected in swabs from external orifices and blood. Infected horses may have a high virus load throughout most organs and body fluids, and veterinarians collecting tissues from highly suspect horses must be fully confident with their PPE, infection control and sampling practices.

Detailed biosecurity guidelines can be found on the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website on the Hendra virus sampling, submission and testing page. NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) policy is that these Guidelines must be followed. The Queensland website should be visited regularly to ensure that the latest version of these guidelines is consulted.

NSW vets should also read Hendra Virus Primefact 2025 - Information for vets for state specific requirements.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

The clinical signs of Hendra virus disease are not pathognomonic, and because this is an important notifiable and zoonotic disease, it is important that samples are collected for laboratory confirmation or exclusion of Hendra virus infection.

Tests available

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

	Code	Name	Samples required	Species	Turnaround time	Price (excl. GST)	Notes	Test days
	HEND_GABEL	Hendra Virus (G antigen) Antibody ELISA	Clotted blood (Red top) LIVE HORSES 10 ml of blood collected into a plain evacuated tube (red top) Submit chilled Do not use serum separator tubes DEAD HORSES 10 ml of blood collected into a plain evacuated tube. The jugular vein usually provides the simplest means for collecting this blood however if blood cannot be collected into an evacuated tube because of clotting, collect the blood into 2 x 5 ml screw-topped tubes. Wipe blood off the thread on the tubes before replacing the lid. Submit chilled CATS & DOGS (Testing referred to ACDP, not completed at DPIRD Lab) Collect samples as for horses except that 5 ml blood tubes may be used. Tubes should be filled. Blood collected into a plain evacuated tube Submit chilled. Do not use serum separator tubes.	Equine	7D	$15.55	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Note: Cat & Dog submissions are referred to ACDP for testing.	Batch tested weekly
	HEND_2PCR	Hendra Virus RT-PCR Panel	LIVE HORSES (Samples in order of priority for collection are EDTA blood, clotted blood, nasal swab in PBGS, other swabs in PBGS) Clotted Blood (red top) 10 ml of blood collected into a plain evacuated tube Submit chilled Do not use serum separator tubes EDTA (purple top) 10 ml of blood collected into an EDTA treated evacuated tube Submit chilled Swab (in PGBS- Refer to notes) Nasal swabs - Mucosal surface of each nostril, collected separately into viral transport media (PBGS) Submitted chilled Swabs from other mucosal surfaces - Oral cavity, rectum (rectal mucosa not faeces), conjunctiva, and vagina. Collect separately into PBGS and submit chilled. DEAD HORSES Clotted Blood (red top) 10 ml of blood collected into a plain evacuated tube. The jugular vein usually provides the simplest means for collecting this blood however if blood cannot be collected into an evacuated tube because of clotting, collect the blood into 2 x 5 ml screw-topped tubes. Wipe blood off the thread on the tubes before replacing the lid. Submit chilled Swab (in PGBS- Refer to notes) Nasal swabs - Mucosal surface of each nostril, collected separately into viral transport media (PBGS) Submitted chilled Swabs from other mucosal surfaces - Oral cavity, rectum (rectal mucosa not faeces), conjunctiva, and vagina. Collect separately into PBGS and submit chilled. COMPANION ANIMALS- CATS & DOGS Clotted Blood (red top) Collect samples as for horses except that 5 ml blood tubes may be used. Tubes should be filled. Blood collected into a plain evacuated tube Submit chilled. Do not use serum separator tubes. EDTA (purple top) Collect samples as for horses except that 5 ml blood tubes may be used. Tubes should be filled. Blood collected into an EDTA treated evacuated tube. Submit chilled. Swab (in PGBS- Refer to notes) Oral swabs should be collected from the posterior pharynx and tonsillar region. Sedation may be required to collect adequate diagnostic samples.	Equine	1-2D Note: Turnaround time is dependent on urgency.	$128.65	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Note: DO NOT use commercially prepared swabs with plastic sleeves that contain transport medium. Tubes containing PBGS can be supplied by the laboratory. If PBGS is not available, swabs should be placed in 2 ml sterile saline.	According to demand Note: Prior approval of delivery and testing on Saturday is required. Please contact Customer Service on 1800 675 623 to seek approval.

Code

Name

Samples required

Species

Turnaround time

Price (excl. GST)

Notes

Test days

HEND_GABEL

Hendra Virus (G antigen) Antibody ELISA

Clotted blood (Red top)

LIVE HORSES
- 10 ml of blood collected into a plain evacuated tube (red top)
  - Submit chilled
  - Do not use serum separator tubes
DEAD HORSES
- 10 ml of blood collected into a plain evacuated tube.
  - The jugular vein usually provides the simplest means for collecting this blood however if blood cannot be collected into an evacuated tube because of clotting, collect the blood into 2 x 5 ml screw-topped tubes.
  - Wipe blood off the thread on the tubes before replacing the lid.
  - Submit chilled
CATS & DOGS (Testing referred to ACDP, not completed at DPIRD Lab)
- Collect samples as for horses except that 5 ml blood tubes may be used. Tubes should be filled.
- Blood collected into a plain evacuated tube
  - Submit chilled.
  - Do not use serum separator tubes.

Equine

$15.55

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

Note: Cat & Dog submissions are referred to ACDP for testing.

Batch tested weekly

HEND_2PCR

Hendra Virus RT-PCR Panel

LIVE HORSES

(Samples in order of priority for collection are EDTA blood, clotted blood, nasal swab in PBGS, other swabs in PBGS)

Clotted Blood (red top)
- 10 ml of blood collected into a plain evacuated tube
  - Submit chilled
  - Do not use serum separator tubes
EDTA (purple top)
- 10 ml of blood collected into an EDTA treated evacuated tube
  - Submit chilled
Swab (in PGBS- Refer to notes)
- Nasal swabs - Mucosal surface of each nostril, collected separately into viral transport media (PBGS)
  - Submitted chilled
- Swabs from other mucosal surfaces - Oral cavity, rectum (rectal mucosa not faeces), conjunctiva, and vagina.
  - Collect separately into PBGS and submit chilled.

DEAD HORSES

Clotted Blood (red top)
- 10 ml of blood collected into a plain evacuated tube.
  - The jugular vein usually provides the simplest means for collecting this blood however if blood cannot be collected into an evacuated tube because of clotting, collect the blood into 2 x 5 ml screw-topped tubes.
  - Wipe blood off the thread on the tubes before replacing the lid.
  - Submit chilled
Swab (in PGBS- Refer to notes)
- Nasal swabs - Mucosal surface of each nostril, collected separately into viral transport media (PBGS)
  - Submitted chilled
- Swabs from other mucosal surfaces - Oral cavity, rectum (rectal mucosa not faeces), conjunctiva, and vagina.
  - Collect separately into PBGS and submit chilled.

COMPANION ANIMALS- CATS & DOGS

Clotted Blood (red top)
- Collect samples as for horses except that 5 ml blood tubes may be used. Tubes should be filled.
  - Blood collected into a plain evacuated tube
  - Submit chilled.
  - Do not use serum separator tubes.
EDTA (purple top)
- Collect samples as for horses except that 5 ml blood tubes may be used. Tubes should be filled.
  - Blood collected into an EDTA treated evacuated tube.
  - Submit chilled.
Swab (in PGBS- Refer to notes)
- Oral swabs should be collected from the posterior pharynx and tonsillar region.
  - Sedation may be required to collect adequate diagnostic samples.

Equine

1-2D

Note: Turnaround time is dependent on urgency.

$128.65

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

Note: DO NOT use commercially prepared swabs with plastic sleeves that contain transport medium. Tubes containing PBGS can be supplied by the laboratory. If PBGS is not available, swabs should be placed in 2 ml sterile saline.

According to demand

Note: Prior approval of delivery and testing on Saturday is required. Please contact Customer Service on 1800 675 623 to seek approval.

Additional Information

Note
Fees for tests undertaken to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of Hendra virus are paid by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). Extra testing to establish an alternative diagnosis is at submitters’ expense.
The specimen advice on submissions for Hendra testing must contain details on the history and clinical findings as well as any vaccination history in order to qualify for subsidised testing.
Contact Customer Service to provide advance notice of your submission and clearly label specimens as Suspect Hendra. A Suspect Hendra warning should also be placed under the lid of the outer package. This will ensure specific biosecurity precautions are undertaken at the laboratory.
Pack specimens securely (i.e. double bag and in a rigid container) and forward separately from any other specimens.

Specimen requirements

Please submit a wide range of samples to:

Increase the overall diagnostic sensitivity
Provide more information about the potential for virus excretion and transmission from a positive animal.
Increase the confidence in a negative Hendra virus diagnosis

Additional Information

Guidelines for Hendra Virus

Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website on the Hendra virus sampling, submission and testing page
NSW DPIRD Hendra virus Primefact 2025
NSW DPIRD Animal Biosecurity Hendra Virus except in pteropid bats EAD Information

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPIRD's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568