A man in his 50s from northern New South Wales has tragically died after being bitten by a bat carrying a rare virus.
One that’s disturbingly similar to rabies.
The illness? Australian bat lyssavirus. You’ve probably never heard of it, and that’s because it’s extremely rare.
But according to NSW Health, it’s also incredibly deadly, with no known cure once symptoms begin.
“This is a heartbreaking case,” officials said Thursday. “While rare, there’s no effective treatment once infection sets in.”
The man, whose identity hasn’t been released, was bitten several months ago.
Received Medical Treatment
Authorities are now probing whether the treatment was delayed, incomplete, or if other health factors were at play.
So how does this virus work? Much like rabies, it’s passed through the saliva of infected bats — usually via a bite or scratch.
What makes it even trickier is that symptoms can take days, months, or even years to show up.
Australia is rabies-free, but this homegrown viral cousin is a reminder: bat encounters are not to be taken lightly.
One final takeaway? Admire bats from a distance — because one small bite can be a fatal mistake.
