Five residents within the local health district have been treated for bat bites and scratches this year, following fears the winged animals were carrying a potentially-fatal virus linked to rabies.
As the bat breeding season begins, people are being warned not to approach or handle injured bats and flying foxes to avoid exposure to the potentially-fatal Australian bat lyssavirus, which is closely related to the rabies virus.
Already this year, 79 residents in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District have received post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment, following high-risk exposure to animals potentially infected with rabies or Australian bat lyssavirus.
Of the 79 local cases this year, five people had been bitten or scratched by a bat in Australia. The remainder had been exposed to an animal overseas, in particular, monkeys in Bali.
“The best protection against exposure to lyssavirus in Australia is to avoid handling any bat and to contact wildlife organisations for support rather than approaching a bat,” Dr Catherine Bateman Steel, the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Public Health Unit deputy director, said.
NSW Health’s Communicable Diseases Branch director Vicky Sheppeard said five bats had been confirmed as having lyssavirus in NSW this year.
“Evidence of infection in several bats this year highlights the importance of avoiding bat bites and scratches. Lyssavirus infection can result in a rabies-like illness which is very serious and, if not prevented, fatal.
“There have been three cases of lyssavirus in humans in Australia – all in Queensland – and all three people died.”
Sheppeard said a good rule of thumb was not to touch any bat or flying fox, whether or not it looked sick.
“Only people who have been fully vaccinated against rabies [which protects against all lyssaviruses], who use protective equipment, and who have been trained in bat handling should touch bats.”
The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District includes Sutherland, Kogarah, Hurstville, Rockdale, Botany, Randwick, Waverley, Woollahra, Lord Howe Island, and a section of inner Sydney.
Need to know
- If someone is bitten or scratched by any type of bat they should immediately clean the wound thoroughly for at least five minutes with soap and water, apply an antiseptic such as Betadine, and seek urgent medical advice.
- When a bat is injured or in distress, do not attempt to rescue it. Contact the experts at WIRES on 1300 094 737.