National

Lyssavirus warning after sick bat found on Gold Coast

By AAP Newswire

Apr 18, 2023

Grey-headed flying fox. — A public health alert was issued for the lyssavirus after a flying fox was found with the disease. -PR Handout Image

A public health alert has been issued for the fatal Australian bat lyssavirus after a flying fox was found with the disease on the Gold Coast.

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Anyone who came into contact with the animal found at the Southern Beaches Community Garden in Tugun should seek urgent medical assistance, Gold Coast Public Health said on Tuesday.

The sick bat was found hanging low in a tree in the garden on April 11.

"The Public Health Unit has contacted those people who reported the bat, as well as those who cared for it, to determine if they were scratched or bitten," said Vicki Slinko of Gold Coast Public Health.

"Once the bat was rescued, it was only handled by trained and vaccinated carers," she said.

Dr Slinko said bats should not be handled by members of the public under any circumstances, even if they appeared to be dead.

"Only people who are trained and appropriately vaccinated should handle bats."

The virus is potentially deadly to humans and is part of a group that includes rabies. It is regarded as endemic among Australian bats.

The health unit said three cases of human infection of lyssavirus have been recorded in Queensland.

All three were fatal after patients were bitten or scratched by a bat.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press