Australian man dies from ‘extremely rare' bat bite virus
'While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective treatment for it.' The man from northern New South Wales, who has not been identified, was this week listed as being in a 'critical condition' in hospital.
Officials said he was treated following the bite and they were investigating to see whether other exposures or factors played a role in his illness. The virus—a close relative to rabies, which does not exist in Australia—is transmitted when bat saliva enters the human body through a bite or scratch.
First symptoms can take days or years to appear. Early signs of the disease are flu-like—a headache, fever and fatigue, the health service said. The victim's condition rapidly deteriorates, leading to paralysis, delirium, convulsions and death. There were only three previous cases of human infection by Australian bat lyssavirus since it was first identified in 1996 — all of them fatal.
'Coma and death'
People should avoid touching or handling bats, as any bat in Australia could carry lyssavirus, the New South Wales health service said. Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with the flying mammals, it warned.
'If you or someone you know is bitten or scratched by a bat, you need to wash the wound thoroughly for 15 minutes right away with soap and water and apply an antiseptic with anti-virus action,' it said. 'Patients then require treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine.' The virus has been found in species of flying foxes and insect-eating microbats, NSW Health said. The species of bat involved in the latest fatality has not been identified.
'Australian bat lyssavirus is very closely related to rabies and will cause death in susceptible people if they become infected and are not treated quickly,' said James Gilkerson, infectious diseases expert at the University of Melbourne.
The virus was first identified in May 1996 by scientists at the national science agency CSIRO, who examined brain tissue from a flying fox that had been showing 'nervous signs' in New South Wales. Later that year, a bat handler in Queensland became ill.
'The initial numbness and weakness suffered in her arm progressed to coma and death,' the science agency said in an online document on the virus. 'Two further cases in Queensland—a woman in 1998 and an eight-year-old boy in 2013 -- resulted in death after being bitten or scratched by a bat,' it said. There are subtle differences between the lyssavirus in flying foxes and insectivorous bats, the science agency has found. Infected bats can transmit the virus to people, other bats and other mammals. — AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kuwait Times
03-07-2025
- Kuwait Times
Australian man dies from ‘extremely rare' bat bite virus
SYDNEY: An Australian man has died from an 'extremely rare' rabies-like infection transmitted by a bat bite, health officials said Thursday. The man in his 50s was bitten by a bat carrying Australian bat lyssavirus several months ago, the health service in New South Wales said. 'We express our sincere condolences to the man's family and friends for their tragic loss,' NSW Health said in a statement. 'While it is extremely rare to see a case of Australian bat lyssavirus, there is no effective treatment for it.' The man from northern New South Wales, who has not been identified, was this week listed as being in a 'critical condition' in hospital. Officials said he was treated following the bite and they were investigating to see whether other exposures or factors played a role in his illness. The virus—a close relative to rabies, which does not exist in Australia—is transmitted when bat saliva enters the human body through a bite or scratch. First symptoms can take days or years to appear. Early signs of the disease are flu-like—a headache, fever and fatigue, the health service said. The victim's condition rapidly deteriorates, leading to paralysis, delirium, convulsions and death. There were only three previous cases of human infection by Australian bat lyssavirus since it was first identified in 1996 — all of them fatal. 'Coma and death' People should avoid touching or handling bats, as any bat in Australia could carry lyssavirus, the New South Wales health service said. Only wildlife handlers who are trained, protected, and vaccinated should interact with the flying mammals, it warned. 'If you or someone you know is bitten or scratched by a bat, you need to wash the wound thoroughly for 15 minutes right away with soap and water and apply an antiseptic with anti-virus action,' it said. 'Patients then require treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine.' The virus has been found in species of flying foxes and insect-eating microbats, NSW Health said. The species of bat involved in the latest fatality has not been identified. 'Australian bat lyssavirus is very closely related to rabies and will cause death in susceptible people if they become infected and are not treated quickly,' said James Gilkerson, infectious diseases expert at the University of Melbourne. The virus was first identified in May 1996 by scientists at the national science agency CSIRO, who examined brain tissue from a flying fox that had been showing 'nervous signs' in New South Wales. Later that year, a bat handler in Queensland became ill. 'The initial numbness and weakness suffered in her arm progressed to coma and death,' the science agency said in an online document on the virus. 'Two further cases in Queensland—a woman in 1998 and an eight-year-old boy in 2013 -- resulted in death after being bitten or scratched by a bat,' it said. There are subtle differences between the lyssavirus in flying foxes and insectivorous bats, the science agency has found. Infected bats can transmit the virus to people, other bats and other mammals. — AFP
Arab Times
19-12-2024
- Arab Times
Researchers find way to silence cancer-causing gene mutations
SYDNEY, Dec 19, (Xinhua): Australian researchers have found a way to silence cancer-causing gene mutations. In a new study, researchers from Melbourne's Peter MacCallum Cancer Center demonstrated that it was possible to use the powerful gene editing tool CRISPR to silence the gene mutations KRAS G12, NRAS G12D, and BRAF V600E that drive aggressive pancreatic, colorectal and lung cancers. The team used the protein Cas13 to enable CRISPR, technology used by scientists to target, disable or edit specific DNA in cells, to target ribonucleic acid (RNA) rather than DNA. They found that CRISPR-Cas13 was able to selectively degrade mutant RNA transcripts while sparing normal, unmutated versions of the genes found in healthy cells. All of the gene mutations targeted in the study are single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), small changes in the genetic code that cause uncontrolled cell growth. Mohamed Farah, a co-author of the study, said that the SNVs have been notoriously difficult to target with regular drugs. "With further development, this platform could transform the way we treat cancers driven by hard-to-target mutations," he said. "The precision and adaptability of this system also opens new doors to personalized cancer treatments tailored to an individual's unique genetic profile," he said. He said that the method was found to silence the SNVs with an unprecedented level of accuracy and flexibility in lab conditions but that more work was needed before it could be tested in people.
Arab Times
09-12-2024
- Arab Times
Study finds healthy diet can reduce chronic pain for women
CANBERRA, Dec. 9 (Xinhua): Adopting a healthy diet can reduce the severity of chronic pain, Australian research has found. In a new study, researchers from the University of South Australia found a direct link between greater consumption of food within the federal government's Australian Dietary Guidelines and lower levels of body pain, particularly among women. "It's common knowledge that eating well is good for your health and well-being. But knowing that simple changes to your diet could offset chronic pain could be life-changing," Sue Ward, a co-author of the study, said. Previous research has found that over 30 percent of people globally suffer from chronic pain, with women and people who are overweight or obese more likely to be affected. The new study found that higher consumption of core foods -- vegetables, fruits, grains, lean meats, dairy, and alternatives -- reduces chronic pain regardless of a person's weight. "Knowing that food choices and the overall quality of a person's diet will not only make a person healthier, but also help reduce their pain levels, is extremely valuable," Ward said. The study found that the effect of healthy diets reducing chronic pain was more prominent for women than for men. Ward said it is possible that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of core food groups is what reduces pain, but the team cannot say with certainty whether poorer quality diets lead to more pain or if pain leads to a poorer diet.
