Equine health officials say the hendra virus, which has killed horses in Australia, is unlikely to spread to New Zealand.

The virus is passed on by bats to horses and can then be transferred to humans.

Seven horses, confirmed to have had hendra, have died or have been put down.

Five of them were in Queensland and two in northern New South Wales, and several people who have been exposed to the virus are also being tested.

The Equine Health Association says this country is insulated from the virus because the Queensland fruit bat is not native to New Zealand.

An association veterinarian, Ivan Bridge, says it would also be highly unlikely to be present in imported horses.

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