Preliminary results from previous research confirmed that acute Hendra virus disease of horses could be prevented by vaccination. An effective vaccine for horses can both protect them from infection and reduce the possibility of their transmitting the virus to people. However, additional data was needed to support registration of the vaccine for routine use in Australian horses.
The study confirmed that horses challenged with a live, virulent strain of equine Hendra virus at approximately six months post-vaccination were protected from clinical signs of infection.