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Originally Posted by SomeoneElse
They mentioned also that all bats carry the Hendra virus, but it only seems to be an issue in Qld? Why is this? I guess it's more tropical, but so is the NT...  |
There have been vague references to outbreaks being due to "changes in bat ecology". I guess this means changes due to human causes - clearing, horticulture, presence of domestic animals and maybe a shift with climate changes.
An article appeared in 2003: "I present evidence that the Australian paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, which has apparently only recently become a parasite of flying-foxes, may transmit Hendra virus and perhaps related viruses from flying-foxes to horses and other mammals."
Elsevier Article Locator
I don't know what became of that theory...but sounds VERY interesting.