3 minute read

A Queensland horse breeder says he will continue to fight an order to euthanase his racehorse after it recovered from the potentially deadly Hendra virus.

A Queensland horse breeder says he will continue to fight an order to euthanase his racehorse after it recovered from the potentially deadly Hendra virus.

Warren Small's horse, Tamworth, recovered after contracting the Hendra virus early last month in an outbreak at the Redlands Veterinary Clinic on Brisbane's bayside.

The Queensland government has issued a deadline of 5pm (AEST) for the horse to be put down under national guidelines to stop the potential spread of the disease.

Two staff members from the clinic - a veterinarian and a senior vet nurse - remain in hospital after becoming infected.

Four horses at the clinic died, along with another two on a Proserpine property in the state's north that also were infected with the virus.

Mr Small said he would not put his horse down and it should instead be quarantined for 12 months and studied.

He said he would continue appealing to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPIF) to reverse the directive after he had sought legal advice but was told there was little he could do.

"I'm not giving up at all," he said.

"And I'm going to make sure whoever's made the decision, whoever's behind it, is going to be accountable one way or the other."

A DPIF spokesman said officers would be sent to euthanase the horse on Friday if Thursday's deadline was ignored.

Premier Anna Bligh said while she understood Mr Small was "very distressed", it was important to protect the community.

"There is a very serious concern that this horse could have a relapse of this disease," Mr Bligh told reporters on the Gold Coast.

"This disease has already seen two people hospitalised and in a very serious condition.

"I think most people in the industry understand while it's very sad, protecting the industry does involve these sorts of very difficult decisions."

Redlands Veterinary Clinic owner David Lovell said he supported the horse's destruction, especially as his two staff members remained critically ill.

"These people were innocently doing something with the horse and became critically ill as a result of it," he said.

"So from that point of view I have to support the unfortunate course of action that has to be taken."

Meanwhile, Mr Lovell said he expected his clinic to be declared Hendra free on Sunday, following a final round of tests.