THE Australian Veterinary Association says it supports the audit of Queensland vet practices to reduce the risk of future outbreaks of the Hendra virus.
The audit, which will be undertaken by Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) and Biosecurity Queensland (BQ), will involve 40 horse-related veterinary clinics over the next three months.
President of the Australian Veterinary Association, Dr Mark Lawrie, says the industry has been working for some time to reduce the chances of vets catching the disease.
"Even before the tragic death of Alister Rodgers, we were implementing workshops to educate vets about infection control. A lot of communication was going out," Dr Lawrie said.
"There are elements of cultural change that take time and progressively roll out, but we're quite confident the messages are getting across.
“What is vital is that vets and veterinary staff working in potential infection areas are aware of the need for personal protection and hygiene when working with animals.
“The AVA has a detailed code for infection control. It covers things like handling contaminated waste, handling sharps, and disinfection and equipment.”
The audit will be carried out next three months with the aim of educating vets and staff about how best to protect against Hendra.
Email a friend