HHALTER - Horse Owners and HENDRA Virus
A Longitudinal cohort study To Evaluate Risk
HHALTER is a three-year project funded by the Commonwealth of Australia, the State of New South Wales, the State of Queensland and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation under the National Hendra Virus Research Program.
The overarching goal of the project is to help inform strategies that reduce the transmission of Hendra virus from flying foxes to horses and from horses to humans. This will be achieved by engaging with ‘horse people’ and ensuring that they are included at the centre of Hendra virus-related policy development and research
At the heart of the HHALTER study is a large and inclusive cohort of horse owners and people involved with horses that we will study over a two-year period. We would like this cohort to include people involved with horses from all sectors of the horse industryand from all States and Territories. We aim to attract in excess of 2500 people.
The study will investigate factors influencing Hendra virus risk awareness and risk mitigation practices, as well as attitudes and opinions about a range of issues; such as vaccination, media stories, communication, and the actions and policies of government agencies. Five surveys will be conducted at six-month intervals over a 24-month period.
This research program acknowledges that the situation with Hendra virus in Australia is dynamic. Therefore, along with some core content that will remain in the survey unchanged over time (so we can track changes) it will also include examination of current or emerging priority issues that are identified as important to horse owners and industry groups, and government agencies. These issues include the introduction of a Hendra virus vaccine as a focus of the first survey, and subsequent surveys will look at personal bioecurity, attitudes and issues concerning flying foxes, and assessment of communication campaigns.
The project team is also supported by a steering committee that will provide guidance to the project. Project findings will be reported back to cohort members, the horse industry, and government agencies in biannual newsletters.
Would you like to participate? - Our first survey is now open!
Our first survey is now available for completion. If you would like to take part in the study, find out the details on Who can participate?
