You should have selected option (1), or (1) & (2). You should not
have selected option (3) or (4).
(1) Phoning the EAD hotline and/or your district veterinarian is
an
appropriate response – it is an unvaccinated horse, in an area
with bat populations and at a time of year previously associated
with cases of Hendra virus infection. The EAD hotline operator
or district veterinarian will be able to provide appropriate
advice in a case like this. It is always better to be overly
cautious than miss an EAD.
(2) Heading out to see the case with full PPE may be an
appropriate response, subject to personal judgement of the
assessed risk (see next page). Should you choose to head out to
see the case, it is always better to be overcautious than expose
yourself to a zoonotic EAD. The level of PPE should be targeted
at the highest risk pathogen on your list of differentials. The
EAD Hotline or your district veterinarian will be able to
provide advice on the PPE and biosecurity precautions you should
adopt.
(3) & (4) Heading out to see the case with no or incomplete PPE
is not an appropriate response if Hendra virus features on your
differential list. The level of PPE should be targeted at the
highest risk pathogen on your list of differentials. You would
be putting yourself at unnecessary risk if you took either of
these approaches.
