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NSW Health has issued an urgent warning after 43 people were bitten or scratched by bats between September 28 and October 10, significantly more than last year. This spike has raised concerns about Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), a rare but deadly virus with no known cure once symptoms appear. The article emphasizes the importance of not handling bats and seeking immediate medical attention if bitten or scratched to prevent infection.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
NSW Health issued an urgent warning after 43 people were bitten or scratched by bats across the state between September 28 and October 10, a spike more than four times higher than the same period last year. The incidents occurred in regions including Hunter New England, Mid North Coast, Northern NSW, and Central Coast. This surge has raised concerns about Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), a deadly virus related to rabies that can be transmitted through bites or scratches from infected bats. Early symptoms of ABLV include flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fever, and fatigue, which then progress to more severe conditions like paralysis, delirium, and convulsions. Once these advanced symptoms appear, the infection is almost always fatal within one to two weeks. Since its identification in 1996, only three human cases of ABLV have been recorded in Australia, all resulting in death, with each case occurring in Queensland. Keira Glasgow from NSW Health advised that people should assume any bat could carry the virus and avoid handling them.
Written for “Bat Virus Warning Australia” on 2026-10-13,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
NSW Health has issued an urgent warning after more than 40 people were bitten or scratched by bats across the state in just two weeks, raising fears of exposure to a rare but deadly virus.
asserted
people → issue → virus
Between September 28 and October 10, 43 people were assessed by health authorities following encounters with bats, more than four times the number recorded during the same period last year.
asserted
people → assess → period
The incidents were reported across the Hunter New England, Mid North Coast, Northern NSW and Central Coast regions.
asserted
incidents → report → regions
The spike has raised concerns about Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), a close relative of rabies that can spread to humans through bites, scratches or contact with an infected bat's saliva.
Early symptoms can resemble the flu, including headaches, fever and fatigue, before the illness progresses to paralysis, delirium and convulsions.
asserted
illness → raise → paralysis
Once symptoms develop, the infection is almost always fatal, with death potentially occurring within one or two weeks.
asserted
death → develop → weeks
Three human cases of Australian bat lyssavirus have been recorded in Australia since the virus was first identified in 1996, all in Queensland.
asserted
virus → record → Queensland
All three people died.
asserted
people → die → ?
Keira Glasgow, Director of Health Protection at NSW Health, warned that people should never attempt to handle bats, even if they appear injured or distressed.
asserted
they → warn → bats
NSW Health has issued an urgent warning after more than 40 people were bitten or scratched by bats across the state in just two weeks, raising fears of exposure to a rare but deadly virus
People are urged not to handle the animals, which are known to carry the deadly but rare Australian Bat Lyssavirus (pictured)
'We want people to assume that any bat could carry Australian bat lyssavirus, which is a close relative to the rabies virus and very dangerous to humans,' Ms Glasgow said.
'
uncertain
Glasgow → issue → humans
If you see a bat that is injured or in distress, call your local wildlife rescue service and do not touch it.
asserted
that → see → it
Only trained, protected and vaccinated wildlife handlers should interact with bats.
asserted
handlers → train → bats
It is incredibly rare for Australian bat lyssavirus 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.
asserted
who → transmit → bat
'If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, urgent medical assessment is crucial.'
asserted
assessment → bite → bat
Anyone bitten or scratched by a bat should immediately wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes, apply an antiviral antiseptic such as Betadine and seek urgent medical advice about treatment to prevent infection.
asserted
Anyone → bite → infection
The rise in encounters comes as food shortages force flying foxes to change their usual behaviour, bringing them into closer contact with people.
asserted
shortages → come → people
Ingrid Emery, Executive Director of Conservation Programs at the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, said hungry bats were increasingly remaining in suburban trees during daylight hours rather than returning to their colonies.
asserted
bats → say → colonies
'During food shortage events, flying-foxes typically stay in feed trees during the day instead of returning to their larger colonies,' Ms Emery said.
asserted
Emery → stay → colonies
'Consequently, members of the community are seeing flying-foxes remaining in their backyard trees during the day.'
asserted
foxes → see → day
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