Hendra virus research reveals urine link

Horses are most likely to catch Hendra from urine excreted by black flying foxes.

The new research - a major advancement in understanding how the deadly virus is spread - has been discussed at a wildlife disease conference on the Sunshine Coast.

Bat expert Hume Field said the recent three-year study of 3000 of the animals from Charters Towers to Sydney showed a strong link between black flying fox urine and Hendra.

"There was much more of the virus in (bat) urine than in faeces or saliva," the EcoHealth Alliance scientist said.

However he said more research was needed to determine exactly how infected horses come into contact with the urine.

Another study of 2000 flying foxes showed bats weren't any more likely to excrete the virus when stressed, the Wildlife Disease Association International Conference was told.

The research would be useful for horse owners to better understand the risks of Hendra and help them to decide whether to vaccinate their animals against the lethal infection, Dr Field said.

It comes just days after Queensland recorded its first case of the deadly Hendra virus for 2015.

The animal died at an Atherton Tablelands property last week and authorities are now monitoring a number of other horses on the property.