Surge in people being bitten by rabies-infected flying foxes
Bat attack warning: ‘Unprecedented’ surge in people being bitten and scratched by flying foxes infected with rabies-like virus
- NSW health experts are warning of bat attacks following spike in such incidents
- Dr Durrheim says health repercussions of a bite should not be underestimated
- The hot weather is understood to be the reason behind the increase in attacks
A warning has been issued following a surge in people being bitten and scratched by flying foxes infected with a virus like rabies.
A spike in the number of incidents in the Newcastle area has led New South Wales health experts to issue a bat attack alert.
The extremely hot weather seen across Australia this is week is making the bats irritated and aggressive, the ABC reported.
A warning has been issued following a surge in people being bitten and scratched by flying foxes infected with a virus like rabies
A spike in the number of incidents in the Newcastle area has led New South Wales health experts to issue a bat attack alert
Authorities say the number of bites and scratches is unprecedented, with public health physician David Durrheim telling ABC News: ‘The seven that we have had in the last two weeks is certainly higher than we’ve seen in comparative periods.’
Dr Durrheim is advising people in the region to avoid all contact with the animals, and to assume all bats carry the rabies-like virus Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV).
The public health doctor said the risks that come with being attacked by a bat should not be underestimated.
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The public health doctor said the risks that come with being attacked by a bat should not be underestimated
‘The clinical symptoms are almost just as awful as rabies, and once the disease starts it can’t really be effectively treated, and almost everyone dies,’ Dr Durrheim said.
According to Dr Durrheim, the flying foxes can also take ill in the hot weather conditions and fall from trees, becoming entwined in wires or other places.
People who try to assist them will then end up getting scratched or bitten.
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