Transmissibility from horses to humans of a novel paramyxovirus, equine morbillivirus (EMV).
OBJECTIVE
Determination of potential infectivity of a new paramyxovirus equine morbillivirus (EMV) from horses to humans and humans to humans as a result of two outbreaks in Queensland which involved 23 horses and three humans.


METHODS
Seroepidemiological testing using neutralizing and immunofluorescing antibodies on people with variable levels of exposure to infected horses and humans.


RESULTS
All serological testing on a total of 298 individual contacts was negative.


CONCLUSIONS
While the three human cases of EMV were probably infected as a result of very close contact with horses, these data suggest that infectivity from horses or humans is very low.
McCormack
J G
JG
University Department of Medicine/Infectious Diseases, Mater Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Allworth
A M
AM
Selvey
L A
LA
Selleck
P W
PW
D000818:Animals; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D006736:Horses / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D018103:Morbillivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018185:Morbillivirus Infections / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*