A man in his 50s has died in northern New South Wales after contracting Australian bat lyssavirus – the first confirmed case in the state and only the fourth nationally.
NSW Health confirmed the man was bitten by a bat several months ago and later developed symptoms. Once symptoms appear, the virus is almost always fatal.
Authorities are investigating whether other factors contributed to his infection.
Australian bat lyssavirus is a rare but deadly rabies-like disease that attacks the central nervous system. It is spread through bites or scratches from infected bats.
NSW Health is urging the public not to handle bats under any circumstances. In 2024, 118 people in Australia required medical assessment after being bitten or scratched by bats.
Wildlife carer Trish Paterson, who runs the Australian Bat Clinic in Queensland, said to ABC News that human infections are “very rare” but always serious.
“Once you get it, you pretty much die – that’s why we carers are vaccinated,” she said.
“But if you don’t touch a bat, you can’t get bitten or scratched.”
Ms Paterson said it was concerning that the man received treatment after the bite but still developed the disease.
NSW Health advises anyone bitten or scratched by a bat to seek urgent medical attention. Treatment may involve rabies immunoglobulin and a full course of rabies vaccination.
The virus has been detected in flying foxes, fruit bats and insect-eating microbats across Australia.