Man dies after becoming NSW's first confirmed Australian bat lyssavirus case
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Telegraph
31 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Australian man dies from ‘extremely rare' virus after bat bite
A man has died from an incurable and 'extremely rare' rabies-like virus that he caught after being bitten by a bat. The man, who is believed to be in his 50s, was bitten several months ago and infected with Australian bat lyssavirus – a pathogen closely related to rabies. It is the first confirmed case of the virus in a person in New South Wales, and only the fourth human infection since lyssavirus was first identified in Australia in 1996. While ABLV is unique to Australia, in June an injured bat rescued from a garden in the Isle of Wight tested positive for European Bat Lyssavirus. There are two strains of this pathogen and, according to the Bat Conservation Trust, just 59 of 19,000 bats tested since 1986 have been infected in the UK. Two people have been infected in Britain since records began – once in 1902, and again 100 years later in a bat handler in Scotland. 'It is incredibly rare for the virus to transmit to humans,' Keira Glasgow, a director in health protection at New South Wales Health, said on Wednesday. 'But once symptoms of lyssavirus start in people who are scratched or bitten by an infected bat, sadly there is no effective treatment.' Symptoms of lyssavirus can take days, months or even years to emerge. Much like rabies, early signs of the disease are flu-like – including a headache, fever and fatigue. Patients can deteriorate rapidly, with paralysis, delirium, convulsions, and ultimately death. 'Rabies, the disease, is an extremely similar disease of the central nervous system to that which can develop after ABLV [Australia bat lyssavirus] infection, although the two viruses are genetically distinct,' said Dr Ian Mackay, a virologist at the University of Queensland. 'ABLV is a rare passenger of bats but when it is present, it is more often the cause of symptoms in those bats. Once symptoms develop in an infected human, disease is often fatal as there is no cure,' he told The Telegraph However, like rabies, immediate treatment post-exposure can stop symptoms from ever developing – and because the viruses are so similar, rabies immunoglobin and rabies vaccines are used to treat lyssavirus infections. However Trish Paterson, a wildlife carer for more than 30 years who ran the Australian Bat Clinic and Wildlife Trauma Centre in Queensland, told ABC News that it was worrying that the man had reportedly sought treatment – though it is not clear how quickly. 'If he received treatment [directly after the bite] and still contracted the virus, that would be a little bit concerning,' she said. In Australia, 118 people required medical assessment after they were bitten or scratched by bats last year. Public health officials this week urged anyone who came into contact with a bat to seek immediate treatment. But it is currently not clear how widespread the virus is within the country's bat population. According to figures from Wildlife Health Australia as of June 2024, 420 sick bats have tested positive with lyssavirus since 2001, including 97 in New South Wales. The disease affects a variety of bats and prevalence in wild populations is not clear – although studies in the early 2000s suggested it was less than 1 per cent, Wildlife Health Australia said. 'We don't know much about ABLV dynamics in bats,' Dr Alison Peel, a veterinarian and wildlife disease ecologist at the University of Sydney, wrote on the social media site BlueSky. 'But the risk to people is higher when contact is more likely – [for example] during food shortages for flying foxes, when they are more likely to search for food in backyards, or extreme heat events, when bats suffer and die in large numbers and people try to help. 'So, it's important to ensure that we protect bat habitats and allow space for them to play their important natural roles in ecosystems, without forcing them to come into contact with humans,' she said.
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
7 snakes that give birth instead of laying eggs
The common image of a snake coiled around a cluster of eggs is only partly accurate. While egg-laying is widespread among snakes, it's not the rule for every species. A significant number of snakes across the world give birth to live young instead. These offspring are born fully developed, without the need for external incubation. It's not a biological quirk– it's an evolved response to specific environmental challenges. In certain habitats, laying eggs can put the next generation at greater risk. For these species, giving birth directly improves the odds of survival. Giving birth, not laying eggs This process is known as viviparity– when young ones grow inside the mother and are born live, rather than hatching from eggs laid outside the body. In snakes, this adaptation helps in places where eggs wouldn't stand a chance. Whether it's freezing temperatures, swampy terrain, or predators that sniff out nests, some environments simply don't favour external eggs. So, the snakes evolve. They carry their young inside, protect them until they're strong enough, and then give birth. It's practical. And it's surprisingly common. A closer look at the snakes that give birth : Boa constrictor These powerful snakes live in environments where exposed eggs would be an open invitation to predators. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Instead, boas carry their young for months. When the time comes, they give birth to dozens of baby snakes. Garter snake One of the most widespread snakes in North America, garter snakes are known for their adaptability. In colder regions, laying eggs would be too risky, so females give birth to live young, sometimes up to 80 at once. It's a strategy that helps them thrive, even in unpredictable climates. Green anaconda Living in swamps and rivers, green anacondas face a different challenge: water. Eggs would be far too vulnerable in their wet environment. Instead, these massive snakes give birth to fully formed young that can swim from the moment they enter the world. Rinkhals Native to southern Africa, the rinkhals doesn't just spit venom– it also gives birth to live young. It's an advantage in the cooler highlands where it's found, where egg development would be difficult. European adder Found in parts of Europe and the UK, this snake avoids the risk of frozen eggs by delivering its young in late summer. The litters are small, but the conditions give each offspring a better chance of survival. Red-bellied black snake This Australian native lives in wetlands prone to floods and sudden changes in weather. Laying eggs would be too uncertain. So the species relies on viviparity– giving birth to several dozen young that are already equipped for their environment. Gaboon viper Deep in central Africa's rainforests, the Gaboon viper faces humid conditions that could easily damage or destroy eggs. By keeping its offspring inside until birth, it increases the likelihood they'll survive in a place where moisture is constant.
India Today
37 minutes ago
- India Today
Australian man dies doing backflip to celebrate new life with partner in new home
An 18-year-old Australian boy died after hitting his head while doing a celebratory backflip in his new apartment. According to multiple reports in Australian media, Sonny Blundell suffered multiple strokes and internal bleeding, resulting from an injury from a state that the incident took place on June 24 when Blundell was celebrating his move from the Central Coast in New South Wales to the Gold Coast in had recently moved to the Gold Coast suburb of Southport 'to start a new life with his girlfriend' after being offered a concreting job in the area, The Daily Telegraph quoted his sister Izabella Cromack-Hay as saying. According to reports, Sonny had Facetimed his sister before the incident. She recalled that her brother was happy about moving into a new house and starting a new life after being offered a well-paying job in the doing the backflip, Sonny hit his head on the ground in the lounge room. He went to bed with a woke up, went to the washroom, vomited, and then passed out. The following morning, his friend found him was taken to a hospital, where he suffered multiple strokes and a brain bleed. He underwent a social media post, his sister said Sonny's first 24 hours at the hospital were critical. "We nearly lost him after having multiple strokes and another bleed, which led to him needing a drain in his brain," she added, "There is major uncertainty that Sonny will or will not pull through. He's working his hardest as there could be recovery and rehabilitation," before his death.- Ends
