Experimental Hendra virus treatment offered to mother and daughter

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDMay 27 2010

After recent reports of a horse being put down for being infected with the deadly Hendra virus, new reports of an experimental treatment have surfaced. At Queensland's Sunshine Coast a mother and daughter duo, Rebecca Day and her 12 year old girl Mollie, who had been exposed to the virus, have been offered the experimental treatment.

The family’s horse was infected with the virus at a Tewantin property on the Sunshine Coast 10 days ago. According to Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young this drug is obtained from the US and is proven effective in preventing the infection in ferrets and monkeys. It has been tried only once in a human on Rockhampton vet Alister Rodgers, before he died from Hendra virus in hospital last year. Earlier in 1994 four of the seven people exposed have lost their lives to this virus.

Ms Day and her daughter are yet to accept the treatment. Although Dr. Young emphasizes that the drug needs to be given before symptoms appear, the family is still to come to a decision. Dr. Young said, “We'll be using it today if they choose to have it…It's a very, very difficult decision for the two of them to make in that there haven't been human trials…But we do understand the science behind the development of monoclonal antibodies so we know how they work, so there shouldn't be problems.”

This experimental drug is developed by the CSIRO scientist Deborah Middleton and her colleagues in the US. Simply stated it attaches to the Hendra virus thereby inactivating it and preventing the infection. “The drug prevents the infection from developing - it binds so you've got an antibody that's specifically designed against the Hendra virus, so it prevents the person then going on to get a full-blown infection,” Dr. Young explained. The drug needs to be given before the symptoms appear and within 21 days of exposure says Dr. Young.

“We're currently in very preliminary discussions with CSL and CSIRO to produce this antibody for human use,” Dr. Young said. She emphasized that prevention was important. “If a horse is unwell, you really need to protect yourself…Do not got near them, and if you must, properly protect yourself,” she said.

Weighing the risks and benefits of the experimental drug, CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory director Martyn Jeggo said, “Obviously, that's a balance between the risks from Hendra virus itself, versus the risk from the product…It's balancing the risks of a side effect against the risks of somebody dying from Hendra. I think it boils down to what is the level of exposure of the person.”

Of the other nine people who were exposed to the virus, none according to Queensland Health merit the use of the drug. All the eleven exposed people will need another two rounds of tests authorities reveal. The antibody will be arriving at Brisbane from the US today.