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NSW man dies in state's first case of Australian bat lyssavirus
ABC NEWS (Australia)
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7/4/2025
Health authorities say the death of a NSW man from a bat-borne virus is a reminder to avoid contact with wild animals. Wildlife disease ecologist Dr Alison Peel says transmission of the virus is very rare.
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00:00
Australian Batless Virus, or ABLV, is a virus that circulates naturally within Australian
00:07
bats and it's very closely related to rabies.
00:11
It can be present in the saliva of some bats, including flying foxes and some of the Australian
00:16
small insectivorous bats.
00:18
How is it transferred?
00:21
So it's important to know that you can't be exposed to the virus just by being near
00:26
flying foxes or even being exposed to their faeces or anything like that.
00:30
The bats carry the virus in their saliva and the exposure happens if an infected bat bites
00:37
or scratches somebody or that their saliva comes into contact with an existing wound.
00:42
Alison, how common is it in bats?
00:45
It's very rare.
00:47
There's been some studies that have screened thousands of healthy bats and failed to find
00:52
the virus in any of those.
00:54
But there are a number of bats each year that show behavioural signs and where the virus
01:00
is detected in them.
01:02
So we think it's circulating probably at less than half a percent of the population at any
01:05
given time.
01:07
And in terms of the cases into humans, this is another sad example, but it's the fourth
01:14
case in Australia in total.
01:16
It's interesting in that you don't get sick straight away.
01:20
There's a delay in the illness progressing.
01:23
Talk me through what it does to the body.
01:25
Yeah.
01:26
So the virus can enter the body through that wound site that I mentioned.
01:31
And then it travels slowly up through the nerves towards the brain.
01:35
And that takes quite a long time.
01:37
And it's variable from person to person and where the bite site is.
01:43
But it's only once the virus reaches your brain that you start to demonstrate clinical signs
01:48
from the infection.
01:49
Is there any treatment?
01:50
Unfortunately, once the clinical signs are observed, there's no treatment.
01:55
A vaccination?
01:57
So preventative vaccination can either be administered to people who are in regular contact with bats.
02:07
Things like wildlife carers or veterinarians or, in fact, similar to rabies, anyone who's traveling overseas
02:13
and who might come into contact with infected animals.
02:17
So there's a schedule of vaccination.
02:19
And once you are immune and you have developed antibodies, then that's highly effective in preventing
02:25
the infection.
02:26
Or if there's somebody who's been exposed who hasn't previously been infected, then it's
02:31
really important to seek medical attention immediately, because there is a treatment that generally prevents
02:38
infection in taking hold and stops the virus before it reaches your brain.
02:43
Alison, how great a risk is there in Australia?
02:46
I'm thinking you see bats in amongst houses and people everywhere in Australia.
02:52
So, you know, we've encroached on their territory and we live side by side.
02:57
Yeah, I mean, absolutely.
02:59
Bats are part of our natural environment, along with the many other wonderful wildlife species
03:04
that we have here.
03:05
The important thing to remember is that the infection is very rare in bats themselves and
03:11
that direct contact is needed.
03:14
And so that direct contact between people and bats is very rare.
03:18
The periods of time when infection or the risk of infection might be highest is when bats
03:27
are coming into contact more with humans.
03:29
And that might be if there's a food shortage, for example, and bats are starving and might
03:34
be looking for food in people's backyards.
03:36
Or when we have the climate-induced sort of extreme heat events where large numbers of
03:43
bats can die of heat stroke and be on the ground.
03:46
And many people, members of the public are well-meaning and wanting to help those bats
03:50
out.
03:51
But really, it's better for yourself and for the bats if you leave them alone and contact
03:55
a qualified wildlife carer.
03:57
OK.
03:58
Can it infect dogs and cats?
04:00
It potentially can, like rabies, circulates in dogs around the world.
04:06
But again, it requires that close contact and bite.
04:10
So if you suspect that your dog, for example, might have come into contact with a bat, then
04:15
contact your veterinarian to discuss the next steps.
04:18
See you next time.
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