Bat with deadly lyssavirus found at popular Brisbane market

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    Australian fruit batQueensland Health is urging anyone who may have been in contact with a sick bat in Brisbane’s West End on Saturday to come forward.  

The animal was found at the popular Davies Park markets and subsequently tested positive to lyssavirus, which can be fatal for humans.

Anyone who touched the bat will need post-exposure vaccinations.

Doctor Kari Jarvinen from Metro South Health was concerned market-goers may have handled the bat.

“We are really trying to get the message across, that please don’t do that,” he said.

“Do not handle bats at all.”

Instead, those worried should call the RSPCA or 13ANIMAL, who can send trained, vaccinated staff.

There have been three proven cases of lyssavirus infection in humans in Australia, and Dr Jarvinen said unfortunately they all died.

“The lyssavirus that we’ve got unfortunately in a small proportion of our Australian bats, it’s related to the classical rabies virus and causes a very similar disease.”