Man critical condition with a life-threatening illness after he was bitten by a bat in NSW

A man is in a critical condition with a life-threatening illness after he was bitten by a bat in northern NSW.

A man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was bitten by a bat in northern NSW and contracted a life-threatening illness.

NSW Health urged people not to touch bats after a man aged in his 50’s contracted Australian bat lyssavirus.

It is the first confirmed case of the virus in NSW, which is closely related to rabies, it affects the central nervous system and is usually fatal.

Only three cases of lyssavirus have been identified in Australia since 1996, all of those cases were in Queensland and all three people died.

The man from northern NSW is the fourth reported case of lyssavirus in Australia and the first one in NSW. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

NSW Health director in health protection Keira Glasgow said it was a very tragic situation.

“The man had been bitten by a bat several months ago and received treatment following the injury,” she said.

“Further investigation is underway to understand whether other exposures or factors played a role in his illness.

“We know 118 people required medical assessment after being bitten or scratched by bats in 2024, but this is the first confirmed case of the virus in NSW, and the fourth case in Australia.”

While it is rare to contract Australian bat lyssavirus, authorities warned people to assume that all bats in Australia carry the incurable disease. Picture: NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Dr Glasgow said it was incredibly rare for the virus to transmit to humans, but once symptoms of lyssavirus started in people who were scratched or bitten by an infected bat there was no effective way to treat the disease.

She urged everyone to assume all Australian bats carried the virus.

“This is why only trained, protected and vaccinated wildlife handlers should interact with bats,” she said.

“If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, urgent medical assessment is crucial.”

Australian Bat lyssavirus is closely related to rabies, the disease affects the central nervous system and is usually fatal. Picture: Supplied

Dr Glasgow recommended anyone who was bitten by a bat to immediately wash the wound with soap and water thoroughly for 15 mins and apply an antivirus antiseptic, such as betadine, and allow it to dry.

“You will then require treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine,” she said.

There is no cure for lyssavirus which has been found in species of flying foxes, fruit bats and insect-eating microbats.

The World Health Organisation estimates more than 55,000 people died from rabies around the world each year.