Australian bat lyssavirus infection is a rare but fatal disease that affects the central nervous system. It is closely related to rabies.
Australian bat lyssavirus is spread to people from infected bats. Any bat in Australia could potentially carry the virus.
Do not attempt to handle bats unless appropriately trained and vaccinated.
Vaccination is recommended for people with a higher risk of contact with bats.
Anyone who is bitten, scratched by or exposed to the saliva of a bat should wash the wound and seek medical care urgently, regardless of rabies vaccination status, severity of the injury or whether the animal appears unwell.
Preventive treatment with vaccination and immunoglobulin may be recommended for people who have been bitten, scratched by or exposed to the saliva of a bat.
Australian bat lyssavirus infection is a rare but serious illness that affects the central nervous system. Australian bat lyssavirus is closely related to the rabies virus and other viruses in the lyssavirus group.
Australian bat lyssavirus is found in bats across Australia. Any bat in Australia could potentially carry the virus. Four cases of human infection have been recorded since the virus was first identified in 1996 - three cases in Queensland and one in New South Wales. All four infections occurred after bites or scratches by bats and resulted in death.
Australian bat lyssavirus infection symptoms
Symptoms of Australian bat lyssavirus infection can occur within days or up to several years after exposure. It affects the central nervous system and is fatal.
Early symptoms are flu-like and can include fever, headache, fatigue and malaise. Symptoms can quickly progress to muscle weakness, sensory changes, confusion, convulsion, loss of consciousness and death.
How Australian bat lyssavirus is spread
Australian bat lyssavirus is spread to people from infected bats through bites, scratches or contact with saliva to broken skin or the eyes, nose or mouth.
The virus has been found in fruit bat, flying fox and insect-eating microbat species. Bats can carry the virus without showing signs of illness. Any bat in Australia can potentially carry and spread the virus.
Risk factors for Australian bat lyssavirus
People who come into close contact with bats due to their work, volunteering, recreation or other activities are at higher risk of Australian bat lyssavirus infection. These may include:
bat handlers and carers
veterinarians and associated workers
wildlife officers and volunteers
researchers
cave explorers
other workers such as power-line workers
People at higher risk of bat exposure are recommended to be vaccinated and should use appropriate personal protective equipment. Information on safe bat handling and personal protective equipment use is available for these groups from Wildlife Health Australia.
Preventing Australian bat lyssavirus
Only people who have been appropriately trained in handling bats and vaccinated against rabies should ever handle bats.
If a bat is injured or in distress, do not try to rescue it. Contact trained wildlife carers or Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) wildlife officers for assistance. Contact details for local wildlife services are available at DEECA Wildlife Victoria’s injured or orphaned wildlife webpage, through DEECA Wildlife Victoria’s Help for Injured Wildlife toolkit or by calling DEECA’s Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
If an animal is suspected of having Australian bat lyssavirus, report it immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 (24/7).
Rabies vaccination is recommended for people with a higher risk of bat exposure to prevent Australian bat lyssavirus infection. Three vaccine doses are given over one month as preventive vaccination. For people with ongoing bat exposure, periodic blood testing every three years is recommended to check whether a booster dose of vaccine is needed.
The Department of Health funds an initial schedule of up to three vaccine doses for volunteer Australian wildlife handlers which can be accessed through the doctor by submitting the pre-exposure rabies treatment order form. Periodic blood testing and booster doses are not funded.
What should you do if exposed to a potentially infected animal?
Anyone who has been bitten, scratched or exposed to the saliva of a bat should:
wash the wound with soap and water immediately and thoroughly for at least 15 minutes
apply an antiseptic with anti-viral action such as iodine (e.g. povidone-iodine, iodine tincture or aqueous iodine solution) or alcohol (ethanol) to all wounds after washing
seek medical care urgently to ensure proper wound care and to assess the risk of infection.
Wound care should be completed and medical care should be sought regardless of previous rabies vaccination, the severity of the wound or whether the bat appears unwell.
The doctor may recommend preventive treatment to reduce the risk of infection. This is usually multiple vaccine doses given over a month and may include an injection of immunoglobulin. It should be started as soon as possible following exposure, so it is important to seek medical care urgently if bitten, scratched or exposed to the saliva of a bat.
At times, health authorities may request wildlife services or DEECA wildlife officers to capture the bat. Members of the public should not handle the bat.
Diagnosing Australian bat lyssavirus
Diagnosis of Australian bat lyssavirus infection in humans is through laboratory testing of blood, spinal fluid, skin and nervous tissues.
However, diagnosis can be difficult and may only occur post-mortem.
Treating Australian bat lyssavirus
There is no cure available for Australian bat lyssavirus infection once symptoms developed. Treatment is supportive.
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