Fourth person to die with Hendra virus
Wednesday September 2, 2009
A vet from central Queensland died yesterday from Hendra virus in a hospital in Brisbane.
Dr Alister Rodgers died yesterday in Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital. Seven people have been diagnosed with the Hendra virus since 1994. Dr Rodgers has become the fourth person to die from the Hendra virus.
Queensland Health Minister Paul Lucas has told Parliament he news of Dr Rodger's death last night.
"I extend my deepest sympathies to his family," he said.
"In total five people with exposure to these horses have been under the care of Queensland Health.
"This is a terrible tragedy for his family who are being supported by staff at the Princess Alexandra Hospital."
It has been said that Dr Rodgers contracted the virus while treating sick horses at a Cawarral horse stud located east of Rockhampton in early August.
He had quarantine equipment in his car at the time but chose not to wear it as he believed the horse he inspected died from a snake bite.
The horse later tested positive to Hendra virus.
Three other staff from the property spent time in a Brisbane hospital and were treated with an anti-viral drug, and have since returned home.
Only last year Brisbane vet Ben Cunneen died from Hendra virus when he contracted it from an infected horse at the Redlands Veterinary Clinic. He was the third person to die with the virus.
Dr Cunneen spent five weeks in hospital before his family decided to turn off his life support system. Five horses at the Redlands clinic also died from the virus during this time.
While there are specialists researching more about the disease there is no known cure for the virus, which has never been reported in humans outside Queensland.
