Hendra virus claims dog in NSW A DOG infected with the deadly Hendra virus has been put down on the NSW mid-north coast, where a total of four horses have recently died from the virus. The incident follows the Hendra death of a horse from the same property near Macksville on July 4. "It is most likely that the dog caught the virus from the infected horse following close contact," NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Ian Roth said. The dog, along with two remaining horses and two other dogs, previously tested negative two days after the horse's death. More monitoring, testing and quarantining of the remaining animals will happen before they are cleared of the virus. A total of four horses have died from Hendra in Macksville and nearby Kempsey since June.