Hendra Virus
Hendra Virus (formerly called
equine morbillivirus) is a newly recognized member of the
paramyxovirus family (
Paramyxoviridae), a large group of
enveloped,
negative-stranded RNA viruses that includes
human parainfluenza viruses,
measles virus,
rinderpest virus, and
respiratory syncytial virus.
Seroepidemiologic studies have shown that Hendra Virus is widely distributed in species of
fruit bats (
Megachiroptera) 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. Despite frequent contact between fruit bats and humans, studies have shown no
serologic evidence of infection in humans who have had frequent close contact with these bats, and currently, there are no reports of
human-to-human transmission of Hendra Virus.
The paramyxovirus identified in
Malaysia has been mistaken for the Hendra Virus, but
laboratory and
sequencing results suggest that the virus is a previously unrecognized paramyxovirus and not the Hendra Virus. As of late, there have only been three confirmed cases of the Hendra Virus in humans. All three cases were in Australia, and resulted in death.
More Information: www.cdc.gov