UPDATE
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Agriculture Victoria has confirmed there have been no further mystery horse deaths since Friday, July 14.
Thirteen horses across five properties near Ballarat, Colac, on the Mornington Peninsula and south east Melbourne died suddenly in the first two weeks of July igniting fears of a mystery virus or infectious disease.
![Thirteen horses have died across five properties, but no deaths have been reported since July 14. Thirteen horses have died across five properties, but no deaths have been reported since July 14.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/michelle.smith/a3eb4698-3e65-4e02-bc8c-f0e28b4f5ecb.jpg/r0_224_4204_2588_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Agriculture Victoria is continuing to investigate the sudden deaths of the horses, conducting extensive testing of samples from horses and properties.
"This is a complex investigation. Agriculture Victoria is actively attending properties, working with owners, testing samples and looking into all reports made to its hotline," Agriculture Victoria representatives wrote in an update.
"Extensive testing of samples is ongoing, and results from recent investigations where samples were available have indicated no presence of an emergency animal disease or infectious diseases already present in Australia.
"At this point, Agriculture Victoria has only found normal causes of death and nothing unusual."
They also stated that sudden death of individual horses was not uncommon, and there "may not be a definitive answer or common link found".
Any link to a confirmed Hendra virus case in NSW has also been ruled out.
Horse owners should monitor their animals and report any sudden deaths or rapid onset illness immediately to their local vet, Agriculture Victoria or via the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
EARLIER
Agriculture Victoria has confirmed it is investigating the death of a horse on a property near Ballarat believed linked to a spate of mystery horse deaths that have occurred over the past two weeks.
There have now been 13 confirmed horse deaths on five separate properties on the Mornington Peninsula, near Cranbourne, and near Ballarat and Colac, since July 4.
Testing has so far returned negative results for infectious diseases, and it is not yet known what has caused the deaths. One reported similarity between all the deaths is a rapid onset of illness, followed by death within hours to one day.
![Horse owners have been urged to watch for signs of illness as Agriculture Victoria looks for links between 13 mystery horse deaths. Horse owners have been urged to watch for signs of illness as Agriculture Victoria looks for links between 13 mystery horse deaths.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/michelle.smith/95eb6ecc-ae5e-466a-b4ae-41b32f49ab7d.JPG/r0_0_4552_3024_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Agriculture Victoria officials have warned horse owners to be alert to any signs of illness in their horses, and report sudden deaths or onset of illness, no matter where in the state, to help the investigation.
The sooner any samples can be obtained from horses that might be showing a similar pattern of rapid deterioration, the better the possibility of understanding if there is any connection between such incident
Agriculture Victoria is working with local veterinarians to investigate the possible cause of the deaths.
![Horse owners have been urged to watch for signs of illness as Agriculture Victoria looks for links between 10 mystery horse deaths. Horse owners have been urged to watch for signs of illness as Agriculture Victoria looks for links between 10 mystery horse deaths.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/michelle.smith/6d19e259-c868-4dfb-892f-2c003006227d.JPG/r0_0_3215_1972_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"The investigation is in the early stages. It is not yet known what has caused these deaths and to date common links are not evident," said Victoria's chief veterinary officer Dr Graeme Cooke.
Most of the deaths have occurred on the Mornington Peninsula and south east Melbourne.
Investigators are gathering information and testing to understand the possible causes of illness and death.
"While we do not yet have any clear indication of the cause, early testing for some known diseases in horses has been negative," Dr Cooke said.
IN OTHER NEWS
"Comprehensive testing for a range of disease, and importantly, non-disease causes, is underway. I thank those owners and veterinarians who have been affected for their assistance in providing information to date."
In many cases the first sign of illness have been lethargy, diarrhoea and high temperature.
Agriculture Victoria has called for all horse owners to monitor their animals and report any sudden deaths or onset of illness in their horses immediately to their local vet, Agriculture Victoria or via the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888.
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