It is essential to be aware of the Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV), which can be spread from bats to humans and result in severe illness and even death. This can happen when a person is bitten or scratched by a bat, or licked on broken skin, or on the eyes, nose, or mouth.
The public should be aware of the prevalence of rabies virus before and during your travel overseas.
If you have been bitten or scratched by a bat, you should seek urgent medical assessment, as free post-exposure treatment is available. Please contact the Public Health Unit (07) 5667 3200 during business hours to report a possible exposure. For after-hours support, please call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
If you experience a bat bite, scratch, or lick, it is essential to seek health advice as you are likely going to require follow up known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). This involves administering a rabies vaccine (with or without rabies immunoglobulin) to a person before they show symptoms to prevent the disease. You may also require a tetanus booster. There is no known effective treatment for ABLV disease once symptoms have started.
Never touch a bat with your bare hands. Only trained and vaccinated bat handlers should ever touch bats. If you come across a sick or injured bat on the Gold Coast, you should contact:
- Department of Environment and Science (phone 1300 130 372)
- Currumbin Wildlife Hospital (phone 07 5534 0813)
- Bats Qld (phone 0447 222 889)
For further information:
- ABLV fact sheet: ()
- Bats and human health: ()
- Be Bat Aware: (health.qld.gov.au)
- Kids and bats don¡¯t mix: Kids and bats poster
- What to do if you find a sick or injured bat:
Rabies is a disease of the nervous system caused by the rabies virus. It infects domestic and wild land mammals and is spread to people through infected saliva. A bite or scratch from an infected animal or a lick on broken skin, eyes, nose, or mouth (mucous membrane exposure) from an infected animal can cause rabies. Most rabies cases worldwide are caused by dog bites. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal.
Post-exposure management is recommended for anyone who has potentially been exposed to the rabies virus, even if they've been previously vaccinated.
For further information see Rabies fact sheet: ()