Australian man dies from ‘extraordinarily uncommon’ rabies-like an infection after bat chew

An Australian man has died from an “extraordinarily uncommon” rabies-like an infection transmitted by a bat chew, well being officers mentioned Thursday (July 3, 2025).

The person in his 50s was bitten by a bat carrying Australian bat lyssavirus a number of months in the past, the Well being Service in New South Wales mentioned.

“We categorical our honest condolences to the person’s household and buddies for his or her tragic loss,” NSW Well being mentioned in a press release.

“Whereas this can be very uncommon to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there isn’t a efficient therapy for it.”

The person from northern New South Wales, who has not been recognized, was this week listed as being in a “important situation” in hospital.

Officers mentioned he was handled following the chew they usually have been investigating to see whether or not different exposures or elements performed a task in his sickness.

The virus — a detailed relative to rabies, which doesn’t exist in Australia — is transmitted when bat saliva enters the human physique by means of a chew or scratch.

First signs can take days or years to seem. Early indicators of the illness are flu-like — a headache, fever and fatigue, the well being service mentioned.

The sufferer’s situation quickly deteriorates, resulting in paralysis, delirium, convulsions and loss of life.

There have been solely three earlier instances of human an infection by Australian bat lyssavirus because it was first recognized in 1996 — all of them deadly.

‘Coma and loss of life’

Folks ought to keep away from touching or dealing with bats, as any bat in Australia might carry lyssavirus, the New South Wales Well being Service mentioned.

Solely wildlife handlers who’re educated, protected, and vaccinated ought to work together with the flying mammals, it warned.

“If you happen to or somebody you understand is bitten or scratched by a bat, it’s essential wash the wound completely for quarter-hour straight away with cleaning soap and water and apply an antiseptic with anti-virus motion,” it mentioned.

“Sufferers then require therapy with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine.”

The virus has been present in species of flying foxes and insect-eating microbats, NSW Well being mentioned.

The kind of bat concerned within the newest fatality has not been recognized.

Australian bat lyssavirus was first recognized in Might 1996 by scientists on the nationwide science company CSIRO, who examined mind tissue from a flying fox that had been exhibiting “nervous indicators” in New South Wales.

Later that 12 months, a bat handler in Queensland grew to become in poor health.

“The preliminary numbness and weak point suffered in her arm progressed to coma and loss of life,” the science company mentioned in a web based doc on the virus.

“Two additional instances in Queensland — a girl in 1998 and an eight 12 months outdated boy in 2013 — resulted in loss of life after being bitten or scratched by a bat,” it mentioned.

There are delicate variations between the lysssavirus in flying foxes and insectivorous bats, the science company has discovered.

Contaminated bats can transmit the virus to folks, different bats and different mammals.