CANBERRA, May 17 (Xinhua) -- A vaccine to protect horses from the deadly Hendra virus could be available next year, Australian scientists said on Tuesday.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has announced that it has made "successful progress" in developing the experimental vaccine to combat the Hendra virus.
"Our trials so far have shown that the vaccine prevents the infection of horses with Hendra virus," Dr Deborah Middleton of the CSIRO's Animal Health Laboratory said in a statement released on Tuesday.
"A horse vaccine is crucial to breaking the cycle of Hendra virus transmission from flying foxes to horses and then to people, as it prevents both the horse developing the disease and passing it on."
The vaccine could come into use in 2012, depending on how further development and trials go.
The Australian Veterinary Association has welcomed the new vaccine but is warning horse owners to continue measures to contain Hendra virus for the moment.
Hendra virus first appeared in 1994 when it killed Australian trainer Vic Rail and 14 of his horses at the Brisbane suburb of Hendra.
The virus has claimed a total of four lives in 14 known outbreaks in Australia. Editor: Zhang Xiang