Lyssavirus alert: NSW Health issue warning after man dies from rabies-like bat virus with no cure

A man in northern NSW has died after contracting Australian bat lyssavirus — the first confirmed human case in the state and only the fourth in the country.

The news comes after NSW Health issued a statement this week that the man, in his 50s, had received treatment after a bat bit him several months ago.

While more than 100 people were assessed last year after being bitten or scratched by bats in NSW, none resulted in infection — until now.

“It is incredibly rare for the virus to transmit to humans, but once symptoms of lyssavirus start in people who are scratched or bitten by an infected bat, sadly, there is no effective treatment,” Keira Glasgow, a director in health protection at NSW Health, said on Wednesday.

Ms Glasgow urged the public to assume any bat in Australia could carry the virus and warned that only trained and vaccinated wildlife workers should handle them.

Lyssavirus infections are extremely rare but deadly.

The disease causes severe neurological symptoms similar to rabies and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

Anyone who suffers a wound inflicted by a bat is urged to seek urgent medical care. The injured area should be thoroughly washed with soap and water for 15 minutes, followed by the application of an antiviral antiseptic, such as betadine, and left to dry.

Further treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and vaccine is critical to prevent infection.

Since 1996, there have been only three other human cases of Australian bat lyssavirus — all of them fatal.

More to come.