North Coast mayor demands lifesaving treatment be available where it’s needed most

Ballina’s Mayor has led calls for a potentially lifesaving bat bite treatment to be stocked at regional hospitals amid claims a ­lyssavirus victim was sent home because it was not stocked.

The Mayor of Ballina has led calls for a potentially lifesaving bat bite treatment to be stocked at the region’s three main ­hospitals amid claims a man who died from the debilitating ­lyssavirus was sent home from hospital because it was not stocked.

Sharon Cadwallader has called on NSW Health to stock the human rabies immunoglobulin antibody – which is in short supply worldwide – at Ballina District, Lismore Base and Tweed Valley hospitals in the Northern Rivers Region where significant populations of bats, including 31 species, reside.

“We have a high bat colony in the Ballina Shire and I would have thought there would be stock on hand in the event of an incident, which has been proven,” she said.

“One hospital within the seven councils region should have it readily available.

“If it’s true that Craig Nolte didn’t get the post-exposure prophylaxis on time, and that his death could have been prevented, we need to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader. Picture: Luke Marsden

The Northern Rivers Region has significant populations of bats, including 31 species. Picture: Scott Powick

Family members of Mr Nolte – the first person in NSW to die from bat lyssavirus – have claimed he was sent home from Ballina Base Hospital after seeking treatment for the bite but was told to return the next day when it would be made available.

The father of two, 56, was bitten on the finger while trying to free a trapped bat from the veranda of his ­father’s farm in Tintenbar in October.

Craig Nolte, with his wife, Robyn, died from lyssavirus eight months after being treated for a bat bite. Picture: Facebook

NSW Health insists Mr Nolte was administered appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis, which included the rabies immunoglobulin and all four doses, “within the national guidelines” – which is within 48 hours – set out by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

NSW Health admitted not all hospitals held the vaccines and did not deny the treatment was not initially available at the hospital.

Mr Nolte, affectionately known as “Zebbo”, developed symptoms months later, and died while in a medically induced coma on July 3.

Ballina resident Karin Dickson, 80, said the local bat colony was huge and vital medical treatments needed to be on hand in local hospitals.

Karin Dickson.

Daz Radlay.

“The time it takes to administer it could be the difference in saving someone’s life,” she said.

Daz Radlay, 55, from Kyogle, said: “We have the anti-venom to stop the snake’s venom from working – we need something available locally to halt the lyssavirus.”

An expert NSW Health panel is now investigating the case of Mr Nolte, after his wife Robyn claimed the post-bite treatment failed to work.

Professor Nick Zwar, from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said: “Ideally, immediate treatment is better, or within 24 hours – but 48 hours is acceptable.”

Lyssavirus was first discovered in Australia in 1996 and has since killed four people.

NSW Health refused to comment further on if it would stock the treatment at more ­regional hospitals.

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Originally published as North Coast mayor demands lifesaving treatment be available where it’s needed most