NSW Health warns of lyssavirus risk after 43 bat bites
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 04:54 · Archive
Forty-three people in New South Wales were bitten or scratched by bats in two weeks, prompting a health warning over Australian bat lyssavirus.
NSW Health has issued an urgent warning after 43 people were bitten or scratched by bats between 28 September and 10 October. Most incidents occurred in coastal areas of the Hunter, Mid-North Coast, Northern NSW and Central Coast. The state's Director of Health Protection Keira Glasgow warned that people should assume 'any bat could carry Australian bat lyssavirus, which is a close relative to the rabies virus and very dangerous to humans'.
Australian bat lyssavirus is incredibly rare in humans, but once symptoms develop there is no effective treatment. Ms Glasgow urged anyone bitten or scratched to seek urgent medical assessment. She advised against touching injured or distressed bats and recommended contacting local wildlife rescue services instead, as only trained, protected and vaccinated handlers should interact with the animals.
Anyone bitten should wash their wound thoroughly for 15 minutes with soap and water, then apply antiseptic and antiviral ointment such as betadine. The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water attributed the increased bat activity to food shortages along most of the NSW East Coast.
How it is being reported
- NSW Health issues urgent lyssavirus warning after 43 people bitten by bats over two week periodA surge in bat bites across one state’s coastal region has prompted an urgent health warning over a virus deadlier than rabies, with no cure.The West Australian · 12 Oct, 04:23
- NSW Health issues urgent lyssavirus warning after 43 people bitten by bats over two week periodA surge in bat bites across one state’s coastal region has prompted an urgent health warning over a virus deadlier than rabies, with no cure.Perth Now · 12 Oct, 04:23
In this story: NSW Health · Keira Glasgow · New South Wales
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