Australian Bat Lyssavirus

Australian Bat Lyssavirus : Recently, the Australian bat lyssavirus has drawn attention after some cases were reported, sparking concerns over public health and safety.

• About Australian Bat Lyssavirus : A rare but fatal zoonotic virus that can be transmitted from bats to humans.

o It belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family, the same family as the rabies virus, and causes a similar illness in humans.

o The virus was first identified in 1996 in a fruit bat in northern New South Wales, Australia.

o Detected in various bat species across Australia, including: Flying foxes, Fruit bats and Insectivorous microbats.

o Modes of Transmission: Bites or scratches from infected bats

- Exposure of broken skin to bat saliva

- Contact of bat saliva with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth)

• Symptoms in Humans: The disease mimics rabies and progresses rapidly:

o Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, fatigue (flu-like)

o Advanced stages: Severe neurological complications such as delirium, paralysis, convulsions, and eventually loss of consciousness

• Treatment and Prevention: No cure exists once symptoms begin; the disease is almost always fatal at this stage.

o Prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) using rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin is essential after any potential exposure.