Henipavirus, a virus that usually infect horses, caused human deaths in Tinalon and Midtungok villages, Sultan Kudarat, according to a study conducted by the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Henipaviruses include two members: Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HeV had caused a total of 11 outbreaks of acute respiratory diseases among Australia’s horses in 1994. Four of the outbreaks had infected the humans as a result of direct contact with the infected animal. The NiV, on the other hand, caused severe neurological and respiratory diseases on pigs, resulting to deaths of pig farmers in Malaysia in 1998.

As a response to the reports of human deaths in the two villages, 17 case-patients were interviewed and subjected to blood testing.

Results found out that virus transmission to humans was caused by direct exposure to infected horses, contact with contaminated body fluids during the slaughter of sick horses, and consumption of undercooked meat of infected animals.

Cases of human-to-human transmission, caused by not using protective gears during the contact with infected patients, were also discovered.

The study stated that the most likely sources of the horse infections were pasture and feed contaminated with feces, urine and other excretions of fruit bats (Pteropodidae family) found in one of the two villages.

Ongoing surveillance is encouraged to prevent future outbreak.

This study entitled “Outbreak of Henipavirus Infection, Philippines, 2014” is available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4313660/ ■