The New South Wales, Australia, Department of Primary Industries has released "Guidelines for the Management of Suspect Hendra cases at Horse Events" in response to the nation’s deadliest hendra virus season in history. A total of 21 horses in New South Wales and Queensland died or were euthanized as a result of contracting the disease.

Topics covered in the guidelines include:

• Biosecurity plans for event organizers;
• Identification of sick horses and suspect hendra cases at events;
• The handling of suspected hendra-positive horses;
• Managing horses potentially exposed to a hendra-positive horse; and
• Advice for venue owners and managers.

The guidelines are accessible online.

Hendra virus (which has killed dozens of horses since its discovery) has been known to yield numerous clinical signs in horses including respiratory distress, frothy nasal discharge, elevated body temperature (above 40°C, or 104°F), and elevated heart rate; however, authorities caution that hendra infection does not have specific signs