Less than a week after a horse in the Caboolture area of Queensland, Australia, was euthanized after contracting hendra virus, another horse from the same property has tested positive for the dangerous ailment, bringing the nation’s total to 23 confirmed cases since June. The most recently confirmed horse was euthanized after test results returned positive.

"Three horses have now died at this property in the past fortnight," said Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer Rick Symons, BVSc, MBA, PhD, in a press release. "One was euthanized almost two weeks ago after becoming seriously ill and being diagnosed as suffering from colic. No samples from that horse are available for testing, and we will not be able to confirm if that horse was actually infected by hendra virus."

Symons indicated that the affected property would remain under quarantine until "at least late November."

A total of 13 horses have now died of hendra in Queensland this year; another 10 have died as a result of the virus in New South Wales