Definition:
Hendra virus is a strain of virus under the Paramyxoviridae family. It was first described in 1994 during an outbreak of neurological and respiratory disease in humans and horses in the Hendra suburb of Brisbane, Australia.
Diagnosis:
Laboratory testings are done detect hendra virus. Among these tests include ELISA (IgM and IgG), virus isolation and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
Treatment:
Ribavirin treatments have shown effectiveness in fighting the disease. Other drug investigations have been inconclusive and more research has to be done.
Symptoms and Signs:
Among the symptoms of hendra virus include flu-like ailments, respiratory problems, fever, seizures, encephalitis and the inability to breathe normally.
Causes:
Hendra virus thrives in horses, and it can be transmitted to humans via exposure to the animal's waste. It also lives in pigs. During an outbreak in Singapore, victims contracted the disease via pig refuse.
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