The New South Wales (NSW), Australia, Department of Primary Industries (DPI) continues to remind horse owners to be vigilant, following another confirmed equine Hendra case on NSW’s North Coast.

The unvaccinated horse was euthanized and buried at the property near Lismore on Aug. 6. This is the third case of the deadly infection in unvaccinated horses in less than four weeks.

Christine Middlemiss, BVMS, MRCVS, the NSW Chief Veterinary Officer, said samples from the horse were sent for laboratory analysis to DPI’s Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute and testing confirmed Hendra virus infection late yesterday.

“The 12-year-old Welsh Pony mare was noticed to be unusually quiet and disorientated by its owners on Aug. 3,” Middlemiss said. “A private veterinarian took samples from the horse on Aug. 4 where it was also found to be suffering fever, increased respiration, poor circulation and grinding its teeth