NSW Health is reminding the community to avoid touching or handling bats following a man from northern NSW dying in NSW first case of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), a rare disease closely related to rabies.
ABLV is a close relative to the rabies virus. The virus has been found in species of flying foxes, fruit bats and insect-eating microbats.
Patients who present with potential rabies or ABLV exposure should be immediately referred to a doctor or medical centre.
Rabies is a nationally notifiable disease, so the PHU must be contacted on 1300 066 055. The treatment that the patient receives depends on a risk assessment conducted by the PHU in conjunction with the treating doctor based on the patient’s history of the bite.
Post-exposure rabies vaccine and, in some instances, HRIG are recommended for anyone who has potentially been exposed to rabies virus or other lyssaviruses.
PHU can order post-exposure treatment, which will be provided to the patient at no cost as a NSW-funded additional free vaccine. For more information about lyssavirus refer to the Rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus infection fact sheet.
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