Anyone bitten or scratched by a bat has been urged to seek urgent medical assessment after 43 people were attacked over a two-week period, amid fears over the deadly Australian bat lyssavirus
A health authority has warned anyone bitten by a bat to seek “urgent medical assessment” after more than three dozen people have been bitten or scratched by bats during a two-week period.
Between September 28 and October 10, 43 people were examined by New South Wales (NSW) Health in Australia after they were scratched or bitten by bats.
Most incidents took place in coastal areas of the Hunter, Mid-North Coast, Northern NSW and The Central Coast.
Director of Health Protection at NSW Health Keira Glasgow said people should assume that any bat could carry Australian bat lyssavirus.
The virus is close relative to the rabies virus and is “very dangerous to humans”, reports the Express.
“If you see a bat that is injured or in distress, call your local wildlife rescue service and do not touch it,” Ms Glasgow said.
“Only trained, protected and vaccinated wildlife handlers should interact with the bats.”
She said that it is very rare for Australian bat lyssavirus to transmit to humans, however, once symptoms start in people who are scratched or bitten by an infected bat, there is no effective treatment.
In 2025, an Australian man died after he was bitten by a bat and developed Australian bat lyssavirus as a result.
This was the first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus.