THE death of a Brisbane vet from Hendra virus has renewed Port Douglas residents' fears that a colony of 30,000 flying foxes there could be a health hazard.

Reef Park was "invaded" by a colony of bats two years ago and residents now face another "summer of hell" as animals potentially harbouring the bat-borne virus return to roost metres from homes.

Vet Ben Cunneen died last week at Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital after being admitted with Hendra virus symptoms in mid-July.

Dr Cunneen's was the third life claimed by the Hendra virus and in 1999, a horse died from the disease on a property near Cairns.

Mike Thurtell, of Port Douglas, feared for the safety of his two small children and other members of the community.

"The recent unfortunate death of Brisbane vet Ben Cunneen from the deadly Hendra virus had again raised some serious questions regarding flying foxes being allowed to remain in close proximity to residential areas," he said.

"We value the flying foxes' contribution to the environment but allowing them to remain near homes is not right."

He said while the disease had been caught from a horse in Dr Cunneen's case, scientists had not ruled out the possibility that kangaroos, wallabies and birds could also transmit it to humans.

Resident Tony Buckley said Queensland Health and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service had not supported the relocation of the bat colony and the refusal was a huge concern.

"We want the removal of the colony because they are in a populated urban area and it is endangering the health of children and residents," Mr Buckley said.

"It is known that bats carry the Hendra virus but we don't know if the virus can spill over from bats to humans."

An Environmental Protection Agency spokesman said because the Port Douglas colony involved the spectacled flying fox, which is a threatened species, any attempts to move the colony required referral to the Federal Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, in addition to the Queensland EPA's requirements.

"There is no evidence Hendra virus can spread directly from flying foxes to humans," he said.

"So far, it appears it may go from flying foxes, to horses, to humans."

Meanwhile, Redlands Veterinary Clinic in Brisbane's east, where Dr Cunneen had worked, was yesterday reopened after being quarantined for seven weeks.

Cats and dogs at the clinic were also tested for Hendra virus, after the disease led to the death of five horses since early July.

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