Public Urged: Do Not Handle Bats After Rare Lyssavirus Case Confirmed in NSW
WIRES is joining NSW Health in urging the community not to touch or handle bats, following a tragic and rare confirmed case of Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) in northern NSW.
A man in his 50s has sadly died after being bitten by a bat several months ago. While lyssavirus transmission to humans is extremely rare, it is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
According to NSW Health, 118 people required medical assessment after bat bites or scratches in 2024. This is the first confirmed human case in NSW, and only the fourth ever in Australia.
What Is ABLV?
Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) is a virus closely related to rabies. It can be carried by both flying-foxes (also called fruit bats) and microbats, and is transmitted to humans through saliva via bites, scratches, or contact with mucous membranes or open wounds.
The virus is not transmitted via bat droppings or urine, and it cannot be caught by being near a bat.
How Common Is It?
Less than 1% of bats are believed to carry ABLV, but because of the severe risk to humans, only vaccinated wildlife carers are allowed to handle bats in Australia.
At WIRES, we rescue thousands of flying-foxes and microbats every year, and while suspected ABLV cases are extremely rare in care, safety is our top priority — for our volunteers and the public.
Do Not Handle Bats
If you see a bat that is injured, sick, or alone on the ground, do not try to pick it up — even if you’re trying to help.
Instead, call WIRES on 1300 094 737.
We will send a trained, vaccinated volunteer to safely assist the animal.
Even well-meaning attempts to help can result in bites or scratches — which means urgent medical treatment is needed.
What To Do If You're Bitten or Scratched
If you’re exposed to a bat:
ABLV cannot be treated once symptoms begin, which is why fast action is essential.
Summary: What You Need to Know