SA Health warns public to avoid potentially diseased bats as heat topples them from trees
SA HEALTH says the public should not touch heat-stressed bats found on the ground due to the risk of diseases — including one nasty that has killed three people interstate.
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THE hot weather has triggered a warning about the dangers of heat-stressed bats found on the ground.
Rising temperatures may see bat pups toppling from trees and the public is warned not to touch them due to the risk of diseases, including one which has killed three people interstate in the past.
Officials from SA Health and the departments of Primary Industries and Environment say bats should only be handled by trained and experienced handlers, and the public should ring the ‘bat line’ on 0474 204 617 if they are worried about a distressed bat.
The alert follows the growth in the numbers of bats in Adelaide in recent years with the Botanic Park colony now numbering more than 10,000.
SA Health Director of Health Protection, Dr Chris Lease, said touching a bat can be very dangerous.
“Bats can carry a range of serious diseases, including Australian bat lyssavirus (ABL), which is a rabies-like disease that can be transmitted to humans if they are bitten or scratched by an infected bat,” Dr Lease said.
“While less than one per cent of Australian bats carry ABL and no cases have been recorded in South Australia, there have been three reported cases of ABL in Australia since 1996, all of which were fatal. The last case involved a child in Queensland in 2013.
“In 2017 there were 18 bat exposures in South Australia that required precautionary treatment, including rabies immunoglobulins and rabies vaccine.
“Like most wild animals, healthy bats are naturally shy and will not approach humans or allow themselves to be handled. However, during summer it’s more common to see bats, particularly young flying foxes, on the ground as they’re sensitive to the heat, resulting in some bats falling from trees.
Department of Environment ecologist Jason Van Weenen said the risk of more young grey-headed flying foxes succumbing to heat stress had significantly increased over the past five years with the growth of the Adelaide colony.
“There are now about 10,000 bats in the Botanic Park camp, so the likelihood of a significant number of pups dying over summer is high,” he said.
“Temperatures over 40C generally pose the greatest heat stress risk to pups.
“If you see a large or small bat on the ground — living or dead — do not touch it under any circumstances. Instead contact the Fauna Rescue’s 24-hour bat helpline.”
If bitten or scratched by a bat, people are advised to thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water, apply an antiseptic solution and seek medical attention.