title: Australian bat lyssavirus: implications for public health.
abstract: Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) infection in humans is rare but fatal, with no proven effective therapy. ABLV infection can be prevented by administration of a post-exposure prophylaxis regimen of human rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. All Australian bats (flying foxes and microbats) should be considered to be carrying ABLV unless proven otherwise. Any bat-related injury (bite, scratch or mucosal exposure to bat saliva or neural tissue) should be notified immediately to the relevant public health unit - no matter how small the injury or how long ago it occurred. Human-to-human transmission of ABLV has not been reported but is theoretically possible. Standard infection control precautions should be employed when managing patients with suspected or confirmed ABLV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia. josh.francis@nt.gov.au.
authors.forename: Joshua R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.affiliation: Metro South Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.affiliation: Darling Downs Public Health Unit, Queensland Health, Toowoomba, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.affiliation: Mater Health Services, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Jodie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: Mater Pathology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Vikram L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Vaska
authors.affiliation: Mater Health Services, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nourse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000821:virology; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000821:virology*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D006801:Humans; D018114:Lyssavirus; D011634:Public Health; D018353:Rhabdoviridae Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*