‘No effective treatment’: Man dies in NSW’s first case of rare bat disease

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A man from northern NSW has died in the state’s first case of Australian bat lyssavirus, a rare disease closely related to rabies.

Lyssavirus is transmitted from infected bats to humans when bat saliva containing the virus enters the body through a bite or scratch.

Only trained and vaccinated wildlife handlers should touch bats, and anyone bitten or scratched by one should seek immediate treatment, NSW Health said.

The man aged in his 50s died in hospital, NSW Health confirmed on Thursday. “We express our sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends for their tragic loss,” a spokesperson said.

More than 100 people required medical assessment after being bitten or scratched by bats last year, but this is the first confirmed case of the virus in NSW.

“It is incredibly rare for the virus 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,” Keira Glasgow, a director in health protection at NSW Health, said on Wednesday.

Glasgow said people should assume any bat in Australia could be carrying lyssavirus, and only trained and vaccinated wildlife workers should handle them.

Lyssavirus is closely related to rabies – one of the most notorious and difficult to treat diseases humans can catch from animals.

Anyone bitten or scratched by a bat must seek urgent medical care. The wound must be washed immediately and thoroughly for 15 minutes with soap and water, then applied with antiseptic containing antivirus properties, such as betadine, and allowed to dry.

Treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine is also essential.

Infections remain extremely rare.

There have been three previous cases of bat lyssavirus in humans in Australia since 1996. All three have died.

More to come.

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