Urgent health warning as New South Wales man fights for life after contracting state's first case of rare virus from bat bite

a day ago

Authorities have issued an urgent health warning as a northern NSW man fights for life in hospital after contracting the state's first confirmed case of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV).
ABLV is typically spread from bats to humans when the virus in the animal's saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch.
The illness, which can be fatal if left untreated, is a considered to be closely related to the rabies virus.
NSW Health confirmed the man, who is aged in his 50s, contracted lyssavirus after being bitten by a bat several months ago.
Despite seeking treatment following the bite, the man is currently in a critical condition in hospital.
Director in Health Protection at NSW Health Keira Glasgow described the situation as "very tragic", particularly given the man sought treatment following his injury.
"Further investigation is underway to understand whether other exposures or factors played a role in his illness," Ms Glasgow said in a statement on Wednesday.
"We know 118 people required medical assessment after being bitten or scratched by bats in 2024, but this is the first confirmed case of the virus in NSW, and the fourth case in Australia.
"It is incredibly rare for the virus to transmit to humans, but once symptoms of lyssavirus start in people who are scratched or bitten by an infected bat, sadly there is no effective treatment."
Ms Glasgow urged people to assume any bat in Australia can carry lyssavirus, adding urgent medical assessment is crucial if a person is bitten or scratched by the animal.
"You will need to wash the wound thoroughly for 15 minutes right away with soap and water and apply an antiseptic with anti-virus action, such as betadine, and allow it to dry," she said.
"You will then require treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine."
Australian bat lyssavirus can be carried by species of flying foxes, fruit bats and insect-eating microbats.
NSW Health has reminded Australians the best form of protected from infection is to not touch bats.
Members of the community should contact their local wildlife rescue group or trained experts at wildlife rescue organisation WIRES if they notice a bat in distress.
"If you see a bat in distress, injured or trapped on the ground, do not try to rescue it," health authorities said.
The community can contact WIRES via 1300 094 737 or find a licensed wildlife rehabilitation provider on the NSW government's website.

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'Invariably fatal' rare bat virus claims another victim

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3 hours ago

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'Invariably fatal' rare bat virus claims another victim

A man has died after contracting an extremely rare, rabies-like bat virus, the fourth death since its discovery almost 30 years ago. NSW Health confirmed the man in his 50s died on Thursday after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The northern NSW man was the first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus in the state and only the fourth in the nation. Lyssavirus transmits from infected bats to humans when virus in their saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch. Emerging bat viruses expert Alison Peel told AAP the virus, like rabies, travels through the nervous system to the brain. "That happens very slowly so it's quite usual for that to take a number of months between the exposure and the clinical signs developing," the University of Sydney Horizon Fellow said. More than 100 people received medical treatment after potential or suspected exposures each year, Dr Peel said, but it was unknown how many actually contracted the virus. "But certainly, once clinical signs develop ... it's generally, invariably fatal." Australia is home to more than 80 species of bats, and without widespread surveillance of them all, it's safest to assume any bat could be carrying the virus. It was only transmitted through direct contact, so being near bats, or even pooed on by one, was not cause for too much alarm, Dr Peel said. "It's an important consideration to try and avoid direct contact and not touching bats, but we shouldn't panic and take it out on the bats themselves." The virus is also potentially deadly to bats. "It does seem to be circulating within their populations at very, very low levels," Dr Peel said. "But there are quite a high proportion of bats out there that have antibody evidence that suggests that they have been exposed to the virus in the past and they've not become sick. "There is something unique about the way bats are able to handle the infection." It is extremely rare for the virus to transmit to humans because it does not spread through the air. A NSW Health spokesman said anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should seek urgent medical assessment. "Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats." People bitten or scratched by a bat require rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. In 2024, 118 people were treated after being bitten or scratched by a bat around the nation. The virus was first discovered in a black flying fox in Queensland in 1996. A man has died after contracting an extremely rare, rabies-like bat virus, the fourth death since its discovery almost 30 years ago. NSW Health confirmed the man in his 50s died on Thursday after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The northern NSW man was the first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus in the state and only the fourth in the nation. Lyssavirus transmits from infected bats to humans when virus in their saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch. Emerging bat viruses expert Alison Peel told AAP the virus, like rabies, travels through the nervous system to the brain. "That happens very slowly so it's quite usual for that to take a number of months between the exposure and the clinical signs developing," the University of Sydney Horizon Fellow said. More than 100 people received medical treatment after potential or suspected exposures each year, Dr Peel said, but it was unknown how many actually contracted the virus. "But certainly, once clinical signs develop ... it's generally, invariably fatal." Australia is home to more than 80 species of bats, and without widespread surveillance of them all, it's safest to assume any bat could be carrying the virus. It was only transmitted through direct contact, so being near bats, or even pooed on by one, was not cause for too much alarm, Dr Peel said. "It's an important consideration to try and avoid direct contact and not touching bats, but we shouldn't panic and take it out on the bats themselves." The virus is also potentially deadly to bats. "It does seem to be circulating within their populations at very, very low levels," Dr Peel said. "But there are quite a high proportion of bats out there that have antibody evidence that suggests that they have been exposed to the virus in the past and they've not become sick. "There is something unique about the way bats are able to handle the infection." It is extremely rare for the virus to transmit to humans because it does not spread through the air. A NSW Health spokesman said anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should seek urgent medical assessment. "Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats." People bitten or scratched by a bat require rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. In 2024, 118 people were treated after being bitten or scratched by a bat around the nation. The virus was first discovered in a black flying fox in Queensland in 1996. A man has died after contracting an extremely rare, rabies-like bat virus, the fourth death since its discovery almost 30 years ago. NSW Health confirmed the man in his 50s died on Thursday after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The northern NSW man was the first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus in the state and only the fourth in the nation. Lyssavirus transmits from infected bats to humans when virus in their saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch. Emerging bat viruses expert Alison Peel told AAP the virus, like rabies, travels through the nervous system to the brain. "That happens very slowly so it's quite usual for that to take a number of months between the exposure and the clinical signs developing," the University of Sydney Horizon Fellow said. More than 100 people received medical treatment after potential or suspected exposures each year, Dr Peel said, but it was unknown how many actually contracted the virus. "But certainly, once clinical signs develop ... it's generally, invariably fatal." Australia is home to more than 80 species of bats, and without widespread surveillance of them all, it's safest to assume any bat could be carrying the virus. It was only transmitted through direct contact, so being near bats, or even pooed on by one, was not cause for too much alarm, Dr Peel said. "It's an important consideration to try and avoid direct contact and not touching bats, but we shouldn't panic and take it out on the bats themselves." The virus is also potentially deadly to bats. "It does seem to be circulating within their populations at very, very low levels," Dr Peel said. "But there are quite a high proportion of bats out there that have antibody evidence that suggests that they have been exposed to the virus in the past and they've not become sick. "There is something unique about the way bats are able to handle the infection." It is extremely rare for the virus to transmit to humans because it does not spread through the air. A NSW Health spokesman said anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should seek urgent medical assessment. "Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats." People bitten or scratched by a bat require rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. In 2024, 118 people were treated after being bitten or scratched by a bat around the nation. The virus was first discovered in a black flying fox in Queensland in 1996. A man has died after contracting an extremely rare, rabies-like bat virus, the fourth death since its discovery almost 30 years ago. NSW Health confirmed the man in his 50s died on Thursday after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The northern NSW man was the first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus in the state and only the fourth in the nation. Lyssavirus transmits from infected bats to humans when virus in their saliva enters the body through a bite or scratch. Emerging bat viruses expert Alison Peel told AAP the virus, like rabies, travels through the nervous system to the brain. "That happens very slowly so it's quite usual for that to take a number of months between the exposure and the clinical signs developing," the University of Sydney Horizon Fellow said. More than 100 people received medical treatment after potential or suspected exposures each year, Dr Peel said, but it was unknown how many actually contracted the virus. "But certainly, once clinical signs develop ... it's generally, invariably fatal." Australia is home to more than 80 species of bats, and without widespread surveillance of them all, it's safest to assume any bat could be carrying the virus. It was only transmitted through direct contact, so being near bats, or even pooed on by one, was not cause for too much alarm, Dr Peel said. "It's an important consideration to try and avoid direct contact and not touching bats, but we shouldn't panic and take it out on the bats themselves." The virus is also potentially deadly to bats. "It does seem to be circulating within their populations at very, very low levels," Dr Peel said. "But there are quite a high proportion of bats out there that have antibody evidence that suggests that they have been exposed to the virus in the past and they've not become sick. "There is something unique about the way bats are able to handle the infection." It is extremely rare for the virus to transmit to humans because it does not spread through the air. A NSW Health spokesman said anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should seek urgent medical assessment. "Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats." People bitten or scratched by a bat require rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. In 2024, 118 people were treated after being bitten or scratched by a bat around the nation. The virus was first discovered in a black flying fox in Queensland in 1996.