Scientists at CSIRO have developed an experimental vaccine to immunise horses against the hendra virus, with field trials expected to begin in early 2012.
The vaccine was developed at the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL). Researchers believe that vaccinating horses against the disease is critical to stopping the Hendra transmission cycle from horses to humans.
The virus has killed 40 horses since 1994, with the most recent outbreak in June 2011. Hendra can be transmitted across species to flying foxes and onto humans.
The virus has infected seven people since 1994, killing four.
Read more at CSIRO