Horse dead from Hendra in NSW

A property west of Murwillumbah in the Tweed Valley is in quarantine following the first outbreak of Hendra in NSW this year, reports abc.net.au.

Testing on samples taken from a 31-year-old stockhorse that died last week confirmed the animal had contracted the deadly bat-borne virus.

The NSW deputy chief veterinary officer Dr Therese Wright says it wasn't a typical case of Hendra.

"It had been observed earlier in the week and was quite normal and then on Thursday the owner found it in a dam," she said.

"They called the veterinarian out to assist because the horse had a very low body temperature but it wasn't displaying obvious nervous signs or signs of respiratory distress.

"The veterinarian is really to be commended for the fact she took the samples and was aware that this could be a Hendra case, because it could've been missed.

The vet and her assistant along with three other people who handled the horse are being monitored by the NSW Department of Health.

Read the full report at abc.net.au here.