Sydney: A man in his 50s from northern New South Wales has succumbed to an infection caused by Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), a rare, but deadly virus closely related to rabies. NSW Health confirmed on Thursday that the man was bitten by a bat “several months ago” and received medical treatment at the time, but the intervention ultimately proved ineffective.
In a statement, NSW Health said, “We express our sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends for their tragic loss.”
The department added, “While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective treatment for it.”
The man, who has not been identified, had been listed in “critical condition” in hospital earlier this week before his death. Health authorities have now launched an investigation to determine whether “other exposures or factors played a role in his illness.”
Australian bat lyssavirus is typically transmitted from infected bats to humans through bites or scratches when the virus in bat saliva enters the body. It has been found in various bat species including flying foxes, fruit bats, and insect-eating microbats.
Keira Glasgow, Director of Health Protection at NSW Health, confirmed that while human infections are rare, the consequences are often fatal.
"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," she said.
According to Glasgow, "118 people required medical assessment after being bitten or scratched by bats in 2024." She added that this case marks the first confirmed instance of lyssavirus in New South Wales and the fourth recorded case in Australia overall.
Glasgow urged the public to avoid contact with bats entirely. “We urge people to not touch bats. Any bat in Australia could carry lyssavirus. This is why only trained, protected, and vaccinated wildlife handlers should interact with bats,” she said.
Offering guidance on what to do in the event of exposure, she explained, “If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, urgent medical assessment is crucial. You will need to wash the wound thoroughly for 15 minutes right away with soap and water, apply an antiseptic with anti-virus action, such as betadine, and allow it to dry. You will then require treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine.”
NSW Health continues to monitor the situation and emphasises that public awareness and early response remain key to preventing future infections.
