A man in his 50s has died after being infected with Australian bat Iyssavirus (ABLV), a rare but deadly virus. He became the first confirmed case in New South Wales, health officials said on Thursday, July 3. The man, who lived in the northern part of the state, died several months after being bitten by a bat. Doctors treated him in the hospital for several weeks, but he didn't recover. His death marks only the fourth known fatal case of ABLV in Australia.
Keira Glasgow from NSW Health called it a "very tragic situation" and said the man got treatment after the bite. She also mentioned that further investigation is ongoing to see if anything else played a role in the illness.
Health officials are now warning people to stay away from bats. "NSW Health reminds the community to avoid touching or handling bats, as any bat in Australia could carry Iyssavirus," a spokesperson said. "Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with bats."
ABLV is a virus similar to rabies and spreads to humans through the saliva of infected bats.
Usually through a bite or scratch. It has been found in flying foxes, fruit bats, and small insect-eating bats.
There is no cure once symptoms show up, so fast medical treatment is crucial. Anyone exposed to the virus needs rabies immunoglobulin and a full course of rabies vaccine right away.
Even though ABLV is rare, it's deadly. All four people known to have caught it in Australia have died. Authorities urge anyone bitten or scratched by a bat to get medical help immediately.
