http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25911105-3102,00.html
UP to 30 people may have been exposed to the potentially deadly Hendra virus after tests confirmed it killed a horse on a stud near Rockhampton.

Veterinary staff and workers at the Cawarral horse stud at the centre of the latest outbreak face an anxious wait of several days to learn if they are infected. Queensland Health began testing yesterday and results are expected by the end of the week.

There is no vaccination for the disease, which has claimed the lives of three Queenslanders in recent years, most recently Brisbane veterinarian Ben Cunneen last year.

A prized filly from the J4S Equine Nursery collapsed and died from the virus on Saturday.

Two other horses at the same property have died in the past two weeks, but it's not known if they also had the virus.

Stud manager Debbie Brown and horse manager Adrian Daniels have been in self-imposed quarantine since nursing the dying horse.

The horse was due to be sold at the Magic Millions on Saturday.

Mr Daniels said they feared they might be infected and did not want to risk the lives of their families or infect their own horses.

"The mare sneezed and coughed on us and we had bodily fluids from her on our hands," Mr Daniels said. "We had a dying horse and we were trying to save it."

It is believed humans become infected after direct exposure to horse secretions or tissue, and flying foxes host the virus.

Ms Brown said Queensland Health had told them to visit their GPs for tests, but they said they did not feel it was safe to go into the community.

"We can't go home. (There) have only been six cases of Hendra virus in humans, so I don't believe they can assure us 100 per cent we won't pass it on to our children. Queensland Health should be sending someone out here. We will stay in quarantine until we get the all clear."

The Department of Primary Industries has ordered an animal quarantine of the property and will test the remaining 30 horses today.

Queensland Health deputy director-general Aaron Groves said yesterday the department was contacting more than 30 people and tests were being carried out yesterday and today.

The incubation period in humans is estimated at five to 15 days.

On July 28, a filly at the property died of a suspected snake bite. A pony being treated at the nursery died on August 1 of a suspected hoof disease. Blood samples were taken from these horses and if still available will be tested for the Hendra virus.