Caching with Flying Foxes

[ruzzelz]

Given the current Hendra Virus outbreaks reported in NSW and Queensland this information should provide all cachers with some informed comments on the situation.

Flying foxes and Hendra virus
Hendra virus occasionally causes disease in horses and rarely causes disease in humans. Although the disease can be transmitted from horses to humans, there is no evidence that it can be transmitted directly from flying foxes to humans.
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Flying foxes are a natural host for Hendra virus. The spread of Hendra virus from flying foxes to horses is not yet fully understood. However, the virus has been found in the urine, placental material, aborted foetuses and birthing fluids of flying foxes.
Ongoing research is continually increasing our knowledge about this disease.
Protection of people
There is no evidence of human-to-human or flying fox-to-human spread of Hendra virus. All human infections have been the result of very close contact with infected horses, in particular direct exposure to tissues and secretions from infectious live or dead horses.

More information can be located at:

Biosecurity Queensland site
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_2900.htm
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_15094.htm

Queensland Health
http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/Inf ... ion_fs.asp

[Kerry]

I don't think they know much about Hendra at all and I don't believe we are being told the complete story? Flying foxes have been around for yonks, so have horses yet it's only been in recent years that this hendra thing has showed up in horses and btw has anybody noticed not just any old horse and for quite some time only in some very specific areas until now.

[Tuena]

Just don't cache with flying foxes & all will be well.

[The Tardis Trio]

Hands up if you were like me, and read the title of this thread, and thought of whizzing through the air on a flying fox (i.e. a long metal cable, a wheel and two handles) and wondered how you would incorporate this in caching?

[Zalgariath]

.... I may have instantly thought of zip lines too... there is an awesome one next to my Cook River #1 Cache hehe

[Bronnie_1990]

Yep, i read this, and thought.....no more god damn playground caches?

but that would be soooo cool on a zip line

[Fuddley]

Just don't cache with flying foxes & all will be well.

My thoughts would be not "don't cache with flying foxes" but "don't cache with Horses"

[gmj3191]

Just don't cache with flying foxes & all will be well.

My thoughts would be not "don't cache with flying foxes" but "don't cache with Horses"

Yes, caching with flying foxes might get you a FTF if you catch this disease, as flying fox to human infection hasn't been found yet.
The posthumous side of the award might be a disadvantage however.....

[Tuena]

I've been advised not to cache with flying foxes because, apart from the smell which lingers in the car, they carry a disease fatal to humans - lyssavirus.

They are also very loud & it would be hard to concentrate when driving. I found a cache in Singleton which had as its main attraction thousands of flying foxes roosting in the surrounding trees so I suppose they could make good caching companions, just don't get scratched.

[caughtatwork]

Getting slightly back on topic.

http://geocaching.com.au/cache/gctje8 Flying Fox 1
http://geocaching.com.au/cache/gctjed Flying Fox 2

These two caches in Kew East, Victoria both take you to sites occupied (or formely occupied) by flying foxes.

I've found both and was unaware at the time of the lyssavirus. I believe I found them prior to the lyssavirus being identified. Ack! Fortunately since finding them in April 2006 (both with my daughter who was 6 at the time), we have suffered no ill effects from the hunt. Phew.

[Toriaz]

There's a flying fox colony in Parramatta Park, and I really enjoy watching them in the trees. I was considering add another cache to my series in the park close to them, even had the hiding spot picked out under one of the trees. But I thought it might be a bit too close to one of the others in the series, so hadn't put it up. Maybe I should just abandon that idea?

[Damo.]

There's a flying fox colony in Parramatta Park, and I really enjoy watching them in the trees. I was considering add another cache to my series in the park close to them, even had the hiding spot picked out under one of the trees. But I thought it might be a bit too close to one of the others in the series, so hadn't put it up. Maybe I should just abandon that idea?

If there is a chance that seekers might come in contact with infected Horse bodily fluids while searching I would agree.

[Facitman]

Saw some flying foxes yesterday and was on a zip line this morning.

Just saying.......gotta love the Daintree....

btw, do I get a smilie for this?