Urgent Warning Issued Over Deadly Bat Virus After Surge in Animal Encounters

NSW Health has issued an urgent warning after more than 40 people were bitten or scratched by bats across the state in just two weeks, raising fears of exposure to a rare but deadly virus.

Between September 28 and October 10, 43 people were assessed by health authorities following encounters with bats, a figure more than four times higher than recorded during the same period last year. The incidents occurred in the Hunter New England, Mid North Coast, Northern NSW, and Central Coast regions.

The spike in human-bat interactions has heightened concerns about Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), a pathogen closely related to rabies. ABLV can be transmitted to humans through bites, scratches, or contact with an infected bat's saliva. Early symptoms can mimic the flu, including headaches, fever, and fatigue, before potentially progressing to paralysis, delirium, and convulsions. Once symptoms appear, the infection is almost invariably fatal, with death sometimes occurring within one to two weeks.

Since ABLV was first identified in 1996, three human cases have been recorded in Australia, all in Queensland, and all resulted in death.

Keira Glasgow, Director of Health Protection at NSW Health, emphasized that individuals should never attempt to handle bats, even if they appear injured or distressed. "We want people to assume that any bat could carry Australian bat lyssavirus, which is a close relative to the rabies virus and very dangerous to humans," Ms Glasgow stated.

"If you see a bat that is injured or in distress, call your local wildlife rescue service and do not touch it. Only trained, protected, and vaccinated wildlife handlers should interact with bats," she added. "It is incredibly rare for Australian bat lyssavirus 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."

If a person is bitten or scratched by a bat, an urgent medical assessment is crucial. The recommended immediate first aid involves washing the wound thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes, applying an antiviral antiseptic such as Betadine, and seeking prompt medical advice regarding preventative treatment.

Authorities suggest the increase in encounters may be linked to food shortages forcing flying foxes to alter their typical behavior. This can lead to them remaining in suburban trees during daylight hours instead of returning to their colonies. Ingrid Emery, Executive Director of Conservation Programs at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, explained, "During food shortage events, flying-foxes typically stay in feed trees during the day instead of returning to their larger colonies. Consequently, members of the community are seeing flying-foxes remaining in their backyard trees during the day."