About six people have been cleared of the deadly hendra virus on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, but three people are still waiting for the results. On Monday, a horse was found to have developed hendra, who was immediately put down on a Tewantin property.

While the horse was affected with the disease, nine people including a mother and daughter came into contact with it. No signs of virus were found in the six people so far in the preliminary tests, revealed Queensland Health

But all of the infected people will be tested again in a three weeks time. The second round of investigation will take place, as the preliminary results for the remaining horse on the quarantined property at Tewantin were also negative.

The horse will remain under quarantine till the incubation period is not finished and the result of all the tests is negative. This virus has taken the toll on four people in the last 15 years.

Last August, one more outbreak of this deadly virus at a Cawarral property near Rockhampton in central Queensland claimed the life of vet Dr. Alister Rodgers, 55, and killed four horses.

Senator John Cobb, the Federal Opposition's agriculture spokesman said, “The Australian Veterinary Association and we are calling upon the Federal Government to make sure another $600,000 is available for the CSIRO to produce a usable vaccine to stop horses transmitting this deadly virus to human beings”.