Australian vet dies of rare virus from horse

BRISBANE, Australia — An Australian veterinarian has died from a rare viral disease after treating an infected horse, becoming the fourth known fatality from the illness since it was discovered in 1994, a health official said Wednesday.

Queensland state Health Minister Paul Lucas said Alister Rodgers died overnight in a hospital, after treating a foal in July that was infected with the virus.

The foal originally was thought to have died from a snake bite but Hendra was later confirmed in horses at a Queensland nursery that was subsequently quarantined. Four other people who came into contact with the infected horses have tested negative for Hendra.

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