ISLAMABAD: An Australian man in his 50s has died after contracting an “extremely rare” rabies-like virus transmitted through a bat bite, health authorities in New South Wales (NSW) confirmed on Thursday. The virus, known as Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), is closely related to rabies and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
According to NSW Health, the man was bitten by a bat carrying the virus several months ago. Despite receiving initial medical treatment, his condition worsened in recent weeks, and he was reported to be in critical condition before succumbing to the illness. His identity has not been released.
“We express our sincere condolences to the man’s family and friends for their tragic loss,” NSW Health stated. “While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective treatment for it.”
ABLV is carried by flying foxes and insect-eating microbats and can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches, as the virus enters the body via bat saliva. The health service warned that all bats in Australia should be considered potential carriers of the virus and urged the public to avoid direct contact with them.
Infected individuals initially experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and fatigue. These symptoms can rapidly progress to paralysis, delirium, convulsions, coma, and ultimately death. NSW Health stressed that only trained, vaccinated wildlife handlers should manage bats, and in the case of any bite or scratch, immediate wound care followed by treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and vaccine is crucial.
Since ABLV was first identified in 1996 by scientists at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, there have been only three confirmed human cases—each fatal. This latest incident marks the fourth death linked to the virus in Australia.
The type of bat responsible for the recent infection has not been identified, and investigations are ongoing to determine whether additional factors may have contributed to the man’s illness.
Health officials continue to urge caution and awareness, emphasizing the need for immediate medical attention following any exposure to bats.
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