Latest news with #RobynNolte
News.com.au
16-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Ballina man Craig Nolte remembered after dying from lyssavirus
A devastated NSW community is mourning the death of a beloved local carpenter who died from lyssavirus after being bitten by a bat, despite receiving treatment. Craig Nolte, aged in his 50s, died on July 3 after what his wife described as a 'very quick case of lyssavirus'. Mr Nolte is the first confirmed case of the rare infection in NSW. Typically transmitted through bites or scratches from infected bats, lyssavirus is closely related to rabies. Mr Nolte's wife, Robyn, shared the news on social media, paying tribute to her 'best friend'. 'I said goodbye to Craig on the 3rd of July to a very quick case of lyssavirus,' she said. 'RIP my love, my best friend.' She said Mr Nolte, affectionately known as 'Zebbo', was a familiar face in the community after operating Ballina Kiddi Care for 18 years. 'I need to put this out to the community,' she said. 'We knew a lot of families.' Ms Nolte said her husband had been bitten by a bat eight months before his death and had received the full post-exposure prophylaxis treatment. 'Eight months ago Craig got bitten and he got the post exposure prophylaxis injections,' she said. 'NSW Health still grappling in their words to how this happened that the injection didn't work.' NSW Health issued a statement expressing 'sincere condolences to the man's family and friends for their tragic loss' and confirmed his case was being 'looked at by experts'. 'The man had been bitten by a bat several months ago and received treatment following the injury,' a NSW health spokesperson said. 'An investigation is underway to understand factors which may have played a role in his illness. 'Post-exposure prophylaxis for lyssavirus exposure includes both immunoglobulin and at least four vaccines given over several weeks. 'The treatment is very safe and has been proven worldwide to be highly effective.' While cases of the virus are extremely rare, health authorities acknowledged that there have been occasional reports of breakthrough infections worldwide. 'These are thoroughly investigated to determine the contributing factors. This recent case in NSW is being looked at by experts.'
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Aussie father-of-two who DIED after catching a horrific virus when he was bitten by a bat is identified - as horror new details emerge
A father-of-two who died after being bitten by a bat has been identified, with his grieving wife claiming health authorities are still 'grappling' with how medical treatment failed to save his life. Craig Nolte, 56, tried to free the bat - which had flown into the verandah of his Ballina home and gotten trapped - when he was bitten in October last year. The carpenter by trade contracted the Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) from the bite, which marked the first case of the virus in NSW. His wife Robyn, who operates a childcare centre in Ballina, confirmed he received a prophylaxis immunoglobulin injection after he was bitten by the animal. 'NSW Health [is] still grappling in their words [about] how this happened that the injection didn't work,' she wrote in a post to social media on Wednesday. 'RIP my love my best friend.' NSW Health confirmed he received initial treatment but later developed symptoms and fell into a critical condition. On Wednesday, it offered its 'sincere condolences' to friends and family and said an investigation was underway into the circumstances surrounding his illness. 'Post-exposure prophylaxis for lyssavirus exposure includes both immunoglobulin and at least four vaccines given over several weeks,' it said. 'The treatment is very safe and has been proven worldwide to be highly effective.' More to come.
Perth Now
16-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Aussie who died from rare bat lyssavirus identified
An Australian who died after being bitten by a bat has been identified, with his devastated wife now raising questions about how the situation took such a tragic turn, despite him receiving treatment. Craig Nolte, who was a carpenter, was reportedly trying to free a bat that had flown onto his balcony when he was bitten on the finger in November 2024. The 56-year-old, from Ballina in northern NSW, received treatment after the incident, but he later fell into a critical condition, according to NSW Health. Mr Nolte's wife, Robyn, is now scratching her head over how her husband's health changed so dramatically, claiming he was given the immunoglobulin rabies vaccine that 'didn't work'. The vaccine is a crucial component of post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies, preventing infection caused by the virus. Mrs Nolte took to social media to pay tribute to her husband and express her frustration over having few answers around why the vaccine wasn't effective. 'I need to put this out to the community as Craig, Zebbo, was a local and having owned Ballina kiddi care childcare for 18 years, we knew a lot of families,' she wrote. 'Before anyone says anything, yes, 8 months ago Craig got bitten and he got the post-exposure prophylaxis injections. 'NSW health still grappling in their words to how this happened, that the injection didn't work. 'RIP my love, my best friend.' Craig Nolte from Ballina, NSW, died after he was bitten by a bat. Credit: Facebook/Robyn Nolte / Supplied Extensive exposure wounds close to innervated areas like fingers carry increased infection risk, resulting in a shorter incubation period of the lyssavirus, medical advice says. Robyn Nolte is now scratching her head over how her husband's health changed so dramatically. Credit: Facebook/Robyn Nolte / Supplied The father-of-two was the first confirmed human case of lyssavirus in NSW and only the fourth in the country. Lyssavirus infections are extremely rare but deadly. The disease causes severe neurological symptoms similar to rabies and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
