Published Thursday, 04 December, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Review finds Hendra response “effective”
An independent reviewer of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries responses to the Hendra cases in Redlands and Proserpine described the responses as “effective” and "successful" in that the disease was contained.
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin today tabled in Parliament the 105 page report by Dr Nigel Perkins, an eminent veterinary epidemiologist with extensive experience in disease control.
Mr Mulherin told Parliament: “At the outset I acknowledge the tragic consequences of these Hendra cases.
“A young veterinarian died, a vet nurse became seriously ill, and at least 8 horses succumbed to the disease or were euthanased,” he said.
Both people who contracted Hendra were from the Redlands Veterinary Clinic. The veterinarian died on August 20. The nurse spent several weeks in intensive care in a Brisbane hospital and was released on August 19.
The first horse at the Redlands Veterinary Clinic, known to die from Hendra, was euthanased on 26 June. Diagnostic tests later confirmed Hendra. DPI&F was notified about unusual deaths at Redlands Veterinary Clinic on 7 July and declared quarantine and visited the site on the same day.
The owner at Proserpine first contacted a vet about a sick horse on 10 July and it died 11 July. DPI&F advised the vet to take samples for testing and a positive Hendra result was reported on the evening of 14 July. An incident response was initiated that evening and DPI&F staff were on site 15 July.
In compiling his report, Dr Perkins met with a diverse group of stakeholders and his deadline was extended so that all relevant parties could be interviewed or provide written statements.
Mr Mulherin said he was pleased that Dr Perkins found that the department’s response was managed appropriately, consistent with the nationally approved AUSVETPlan, and the department’s published procedures.
Mr Mulherin said: “Overall, the report is a strong endorsement for the work undertaken by the very dedicated and skilled staff who responded to these incidents,”
“When you consider the seriousness of the incidents and the very real risks to those staff who had to work in close contact with the horses on the affected premises, I believe that the staff involved did a tremendous job.
“I also want to praise the private vets and associated staff who worked with same risks,” he said.
In his report Dr Perkins said: “the actions of DPI&F staff … were in accordance with national and state operating procedures.”
He described the Department’s initial actions as “rapid and effective” and the response as “successful”.
However, the report also identifies a number of areas where improvements can be made.
Mr Mulherin said: “Perhaps the most significant finding concerns very important information for all people involved with horses.
“People working with horses need to be more aware of the potential risks associated with hendra virus and handling of horses.
“The report indicates that people involved in procedures exposing them to horse fluids or tissue, perhaps even in apparently healthy horses, may require higher levels of biosecurity and protective clothing and equipment. This is an area that requires further investigation,” he said.
Mr Mulherin said DPI&F will continue to work with Qld Health and industry bodies on ways to communicate more efficiently information about the risks and update the various guidelines as new information comes to hand.
Dr Perkins responded to contentious issues raised by stakeholders. He found that:
• The department used the Exotic Diseases in Animals Act (1981) to euthanase two sero-positive animals because it provided the shortest time period for destruction. Eligibility for compensation was not the basis of the decision.
• The department's action to euthanase the two sero-positive horses was based on a decision that the potential human health risks for people outweighed any potential benefits from keeping the horses alive.
In terms of the other recommendations some of Dr Perkins suggestions include:
• The Department needs to give more detail in the conditions of written quarantine notices (a disinfected horse float from Redlands was removed and returned and there was uncertainty over whether this should happen. More details in the quarantine notice would have cleared up that this should not have occurred without a permit)
• A more formalised induction process and a review of safety procedures is suggested (officers involved in some low risk procedures had ill-fitting safety goggles which fogged up – they were later provided glasses that fit properly)
• The Department should have prior arrangements in place for contractors to remove and dispose of dead horses (some contractors refused to move a horse killed by Hendra)
• When there is an order for destruction of a sero-positive horse, there should be a face-to-face meeting, where possible, with the horse owners to discuss what is a stressful process. (While there was a face-to-face meeting with at least one owner it was not done in all cases)
• The Department’s website should flag when information about Hendra has been updated.
Mr Mulherin said DPI&F will now consider all 20 recommendations from Dr Perkins report.
Media: Mark Symons 32396530
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin today tabled in Parliament the 105 page report by Dr Nigel Perkins, an eminent veterinary epidemiologist with extensive experience in disease control.
Mr Mulherin told Parliament: “At the outset I acknowledge the tragic consequences of these Hendra cases.
“A young veterinarian died, a vet nurse became seriously ill, and at least 8 horses succumbed to the disease or were euthanased,” he said.
Both people who contracted Hendra were from the Redlands Veterinary Clinic. The veterinarian died on August 20. The nurse spent several weeks in intensive care in a Brisbane hospital and was released on August 19.
The first horse at the Redlands Veterinary Clinic, known to die from Hendra, was euthanased on 26 June. Diagnostic tests later confirmed Hendra. DPI&F was notified about unusual deaths at Redlands Veterinary Clinic on 7 July and declared quarantine and visited the site on the same day.
The owner at Proserpine first contacted a vet about a sick horse on 10 July and it died 11 July. DPI&F advised the vet to take samples for testing and a positive Hendra result was reported on the evening of 14 July. An incident response was initiated that evening and DPI&F staff were on site 15 July.
In compiling his report, Dr Perkins met with a diverse group of stakeholders and his deadline was extended so that all relevant parties could be interviewed or provide written statements.
Mr Mulherin said he was pleased that Dr Perkins found that the department’s response was managed appropriately, consistent with the nationally approved AUSVETPlan, and the department’s published procedures.
Mr Mulherin said: “Overall, the report is a strong endorsement for the work undertaken by the very dedicated and skilled staff who responded to these incidents,”
“When you consider the seriousness of the incidents and the very real risks to those staff who had to work in close contact with the horses on the affected premises, I believe that the staff involved did a tremendous job.
“I also want to praise the private vets and associated staff who worked with same risks,” he said.
In his report Dr Perkins said: “the actions of DPI&F staff … were in accordance with national and state operating procedures.”
He described the Department’s initial actions as “rapid and effective” and the response as “successful”.
However, the report also identifies a number of areas where improvements can be made.
Mr Mulherin said: “Perhaps the most significant finding concerns very important information for all people involved with horses.
“People working with horses need to be more aware of the potential risks associated with hendra virus and handling of horses.
“The report indicates that people involved in procedures exposing them to horse fluids or tissue, perhaps even in apparently healthy horses, may require higher levels of biosecurity and protective clothing and equipment. This is an area that requires further investigation,” he said.
Mr Mulherin said DPI&F will continue to work with Qld Health and industry bodies on ways to communicate more efficiently information about the risks and update the various guidelines as new information comes to hand.
Dr Perkins responded to contentious issues raised by stakeholders. He found that:
• The department used the Exotic Diseases in Animals Act (1981) to euthanase two sero-positive animals because it provided the shortest time period for destruction. Eligibility for compensation was not the basis of the decision.
• The department's action to euthanase the two sero-positive horses was based on a decision that the potential human health risks for people outweighed any potential benefits from keeping the horses alive.
In terms of the other recommendations some of Dr Perkins suggestions include:
• The Department needs to give more detail in the conditions of written quarantine notices (a disinfected horse float from Redlands was removed and returned and there was uncertainty over whether this should happen. More details in the quarantine notice would have cleared up that this should not have occurred without a permit)
• A more formalised induction process and a review of safety procedures is suggested (officers involved in some low risk procedures had ill-fitting safety goggles which fogged up – they were later provided glasses that fit properly)
• The Department should have prior arrangements in place for contractors to remove and dispose of dead horses (some contractors refused to move a horse killed by Hendra)
• When there is an order for destruction of a sero-positive horse, there should be a face-to-face meeting, where possible, with the horse owners to discuss what is a stressful process. (While there was a face-to-face meeting with at least one owner it was not done in all cases)
• The Department’s website should flag when information about Hendra has been updated.
Mr Mulherin said DPI&F will now consider all 20 recommendations from Dr Perkins report.
Media: Mark Symons 32396530