Neighbours of Crystal Creek property quarantined for Hendra virus kept in the dark about threat despite people treated and horse death

NEIGHBOURS of a property quarantined for Hendra are yet to be told of the risks by authorities, days after people sought medical treatment and a horse died.

The property which was quarantined just off Upper Cystal Creek rd, Crystal Creek due to an outbreak of the Hendra Virus Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

NEIGHBOURS of a property quarantined for the Hendra virus said they are yet to be told of the risks by authorities, days after two people sought medical treatment and a horse died.

Residents at Crystal Creek in northern NSW said the first they had heard of the incident was when the Bulletin approached yesterday.

Others like Ray Kuhnell, one of the closest neighbours of the property owned by Allan and Debbie Mitchell, said he was only aware of the risk because he had “heard it through the grapevine”.

NORTHERN NSW HORSE STRUCK DOWN BY HENDRA

Ray Kuhnell is a neighbour of the property which was quarantined due to an outbreak of the Hendra Virus. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

“I was not sure if the information was correct,” he said.

“Things that you hear from other people like that are not always true.”

On Saturday, the NSW Department of Primary Industries issued a media release saying a horse from a property near Murwillumbah had the Hendra virus.

It was the first case of the deadly virus, which infects flying foxes and can be passed on to humans from horses, in NSW this year.

In the statement, the organisation failed to mention the specific location, Crystal Creek, and claimed to be encouraging horse owners to see their veterinarians and work out their vaccination strategy against Hendra.

It was the second case of Hendra this month, following the death of a horse and assessment of four people at a property at Beenleigh.

Mr Kuhnell criticised NSW DPI for failing to officially tell residents.

“They should let us know about things as serious as this,” he said.

The Mitchells spent the weekend at their home in nearby Chillingham after getting the news.

Yesterday, Michael Mitchell said his parents were receiving medical treatment after being exposed to the sick horse.

A horse in a paddock next-door to the property with the outbreak. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

“There is always a concern,” he said. “Anyone who comes in contact with Hendra is at risk.

“They are following the procedures that they have been told to.”

The vet and an assistant, from Murwillumbah, are also being monitored for symptoms.

Mr Mitchell was unable to confirm if his parents vaccinated the other horses on their property against Hendra, but said all animals they own are well cared for.

A spokesman for NSW DPI indicated while it was a priority to tell those living on properties adjoining the affected site, telling the rest of the community about a Hendra case could be done via the media.

“Informing the local community is being done initially by media, with radio and television interviews over the weekend and today, and a media release sent out on Saturday,” he said.

News of the Hendra case prompted Eunice Higgins, who lives 17km away in Bray Park, near a large bat colony, to start a petition on change.org to have the bats relocated.

She has campaigned for years to have the colony moved, and said the bats that infected the horse could have come from Bray Park.

Mrs Higgins said the council was unwilling to do anything about the problem, but the Hendra case showed how serious the risk was.