Latest news with #ABLV
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Man dies after bat bite in Australia; what is Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV), which is 100% fatal
A man in New South Wales has died from Australian bat lyssavirus. He was bitten by a bat months ago. This is the state's first confirmed case and the fourth in Australia. Health officials are warning people not to handle bats. They advise seeking immediate medical help after a bite or scratch. Australian Bat Lyssavirus: The rabies-like illness that has claimed four lives in the country so far. (Representative Image) Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What is Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV)? A man in his 50s has died after becoming New South Wales ' first confirmed case of the rare and deadly Australian bat lyssavirus ABLV ), NSW Health confirmed on Thursday, July 3. The man, from the northern part of the state, passed away several months after being bitten by a authorities said he had been in critical condition for weeks and was receiving hospital treatment before succumbing to the virus. This is only the fourth known fatality from ABLV in Australia Glasgow, Director of Health Protection at NSW Health, called it a "very tragic situation," adding that the man had received treatment after the bite, and further investigation is underway to determine whether any other factors may have contributed to the have now renewed urgent warnings against handling bats, especially without proper vaccination and training. 'NSW Health reminds the community to avoid touching or handling bats, as any bat in Australia could carry lyssavirus,' a spokesperson said. 'Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats.'Australian bat lyssavirus is closely related to rabies and can be transmitted to humans through the saliva of an infected bat, typically via a bite or scratch. It has been found in flying foxes, fruit bats, and insect-eating symptoms appear, there is no known cure, making early post-exposure treatment critical. Patients exposed to the virus require immediate administration of rabies immunoglobulin and a full course of rabies is a rare but deadly virus found in Australian bats. It causes a rabies-like illness in humans and has no cure once symptoms begin. Only four cases, including this one, have been confirmed in Australia, all of which have resulted in death. Authorities stress that anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should seek urgent medical attention.
Sky News AU
14 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News AU
NSW man dies after contracting state's first confirmed case of lyssavirus after bat bite, health authorities confirm
A New South Wales man has died after contracting the state's first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus. In a statement on Thursday, a NSW Health spokesperson confirmed the man had succumbed to the virus after fighting for life in hospital. "We express our sincere condolences to the man's family and friends for their tragic loss," a spokesperson said. "While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective treatment for it." On Wednesday, NSW Health said the man was in a critical condition after being bitten by a bat several months ago. The situation sparked an urgent warning from authorities, urging the public to avoid touching or handling bats given the risk of contracting lyssavirus. Australian bat lyssavirus (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. Earlier, Director in Health Protection at NSW Health Keira Glasgow described the situation as "very tragic" particularly given the man sought treatment following his injury. Ms Glasgow confirmed the man was the first person in NSW to contract the virus, and fourth on a national level. She 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." ABLV 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. "If you see a bat in distress, injured or trapped on the ground, do not try to rescue it," health authorities said. Members of the community should contact their local wildlife rescue group or trained experts at wildlife rescue organisation WIRES via 1300 094 737 if they notice a bat in distress.
7NEWS
14 hours ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
NSW man dies from lyssavirus months after being bitten by bat
An Australian man aged in his 50s has died from a rare virus several months after he was bitten by a bat. The northern NSW man was his state's first confirmed case of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), a disease that left him in a critical condition in hospital. NSW Health expressed its 'sincere condolences' to loved ones as they revealed on Thursday he had died. 'While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective treatment for it,' a NSW Health spokesperson said. 'NSW Health reminds the community to avoid touching or handling bats, as any bat in Australia could carry lyssavirus. 'Infected bats can transmit the virus to humans when its saliva enters the body via a bat bite or scratch.' It is only the fourth case recorded in Australia.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Man with Rare Bat Virus in Critical Condition After Being 'Bitten Several Months Ago,' Say Authorities
A man in his 50s has been hospitalized in critical condition after contracting the Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) in New South Wales, Australia This is the first confirmed case of the virus in the state and fourth overall in Australia, NSW Health announced NSW Health Protection director Keira Glasgow called this case "a very tragic situation" in a statement following the diagnosisA man is in critical condition after contracting a rare bat virus in Australia. The first confirmed case of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) has been reported in the state of New South Wales, involving a man in his 50s. He fell ill after being 'bitten by a bat several months ago,' New South Wales Health announced in a release on Wednesday, July 2. 'This is a very tragic situation. The man had been bitten by a bat several months ago and received treatment following the injury,' said NSW Health Protection director Keira Glasgow. 'Further investigation is underway to understand whether other exposures or factors played a role in his illness.' ABLV is closely related to the rabies virus and is found in flying foxes, fruit bats and microbats. It is transmitted by bites from bats to humans, causing a potentially fatal illness that affects the central nervous system, according to NSW Health. The symptoms are flu-like, including a fever, headache and fatigue, which can develop into delirium, paralysis and death. In 2024, 118 people required medical assessment after being bitten or scratched by bats. ABLV was first identified in 1996 and there have since been four confirmed cases in Australia, NSW Health reported. NSW Heath is urging Australians not to handle or touch any bats after the first confirmed case of ABLV in the state in order to prevent the spread of the virus, as there is currently no cure. '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,' said Glasgow, per the release. The NSW Health director advises that if anyone is bitten or scratched by a bat to seek urgent medical assessment. '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,' said Glasgow. 'You will then require treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine.' NSW Health said that if a bat appears to be in distress, injured or trapped 'do not try to rescue it [and] instead, contact trained experts WIRES or your local wildlife rescue group.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. This update comes as twenty new bat viruses have been discovered in China, posing serious risk to humans. According to a study published by the Public Library of Science (PLOS), researchers tested ten different species of 142 bats in China's Yunnan province and discovered 20 new viruses, a new species of bacteria and a new type of parasite. Two of the viruses are similar to the deadly Hendra and Nipah viruses, the former of which causes a rare, flu-like reaction that can be fatal in humans and horses, according to the World Health Organization. Read the original article on People
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Health
- Sky News AU
Urgent health warning as New South Wales man fights for life after contracting state's first case of rare virus from bat bite
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.
