Overview

• A man in his 50s from northern New South Wales died several months after a bat bite, marking the state’s first case and Australia’s fourth fatal ABLV infection.
• Australian bat lyssavirus is a rare lyssavirus endemic to local bats and closely related to rabies, posing no risk through casual proximity.
• The virus transmits when infected bat saliva enters broken skin or mucous membranes via bites, scratches, or saliva contact.
• Once neurological symptoms develop, ABLV is invariably fatal as there is no effective treatment available.
• Health officials stress immediate wound washing followed by rabies immunoglobulin and vaccine series and advise that only trained, vaccinated professionals handle bats.