Bats - out of Hell !

There is something really scary happening in the countryside outside out cities.  A strange virus is killing horses - and fast developing the ability to kill people.

The problem is that the Hendra virus has been part of the DNA of fruit bats for thousands of years, and yet it has only become active in recent decades.   This particular virus can be transmitted from bats to horses - and when it does the horse usually dies.   It seems to have adapted to transmission from horse to humans - and when that occurs about sixty percent of those afflicted lose their lives.

So - we have a multitude of problems.   Bats are a protected species because they are part of the transfer of pollen that drives the growing cycle of plants.   Like bees - bats distribute pollen when they feed on fruit and as a consequence they exist in big quantities wherever there are fruit trees - and that also happens to be where we have  horses at pasture.

Right now eleven properties in New South Wales and Queensland are under quarantine, a number of horses have died - and dozens of people are anxiously awaiting the results of tests to determine if they have been infected.

The ramifications are enormous.   The horse racing industry is a multi-billion dollar business and bats roost in proximity to most race courses.  Then there is the domestic horse industry, housed on hobby farms and at riding schools on the periphery of every city, town and village.  Not only the horses are at risk, but the array of people who ride horses - and the army of attendants who service the industry.

It will be impossible to separate bats and horses.   There is virtually nowhere that is bat free, and in fact there are moves to increase bat numbers because a new disease is decreasing bee populations, making bat pollen transfer essential to agriculture.

Perhaps the day of owning a " pleasure horse " is coming to an end and the risk will be considered too great - or perhaps science will come to the rescue and devise an inoculation that will prevent the transfer of Hendra virus from bats to horses.

Right now - being in close proximity to any horse in bat country - is not a good idea !