The joy was the much-anticipated lifting of quarantine restrictions at the Thornlands practice.

The sorrow was for vet Ben Cunneen, who died of the Hendra Virus last week.

Dr Cunneen was one of two employees who contracted the rare virus while treating infected horses at the equine clinic.

He lost a five-week battle with the disease last Wednesday and was farewelled by family and friends at a memorial service at Victoria Point on Monday morning.

A few hours later, officers from the Department of Primary Industries officially released the Redlands Veterinary Clinic from quarantine.

For Dr Lovell, the revocation of the restrictions was bittersweet.

"We're happy but it's tempered by the memory of Ben," he said.

"It's a day of joy and sorrow."

The equine section of the clinic has been closed down since the virus was first detected seven weeks ago.

Five horses have been put down and three people, including Dr Cunneen, have been hospitalised.

A nurse known as Natalie was discharged last Tuesday and is expected to recover, while a DPI vet who suffered a needlestick injury has also been released.

Dr Lovell said the equine clinic would be thoroughly cleaned out, ahead of its reopening in a few weeks' time.

He said the quarantine release was the first step in the clinic's recovery, but feared it would take a long time to regain clients' confidence.