There is a common misconception that Australia is “rabies free.” However while Australia is free of the virus rabies, Australia is not free of the disease rabies. You can learn more about the difference between rabies the virus and rabies the disease here, but right now I am going to talk to you about the virus that causes rabies in Australia: the Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV).
What is Australian bat lyssavirus?
Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV), is a virus that is closely related to Rabies lyssavirus, simply “rabies,” and is found in both flying foxes and insectivorous bats in Australia. ABLV has also infected humans and horses and is assumed to be able to infect other mammals as well just as Rabies lyssavirus does.
How is it transmitted?
Australian bat lyssavirus is transmitted through contact with fluids like saliva, tears or ocular fluids, brain juice (I don’t know the scientific word for this), and spinal fluid. ABLV has been spread to humans through bites and scratches from bats where these fluids enter the human bloodstream. You cannot get rabies from Australian bat lyssavirus through urine, blood, or feces.
Has anyone ever survived rabies caused by Australian bat lyssavirus?
Unlike rabies caused by Rabies lyssavirus, nobody has ever survived rabies caused by ABLV. There are three known cases of humans contracting Australian bat lyssavirus, and all developed rabies and died.
How is ABLV treated?
While there is no cure for ABLV once it has developed into rabies, rabies from ABLV can be prevented with a general rabies post-exposure regimen. The best way to avoid contracting rabies from any sort of virus is to completely avoid contact with wild animals, especially bats! If you believe you may have been bit or scratched by a bat, please seek medical treatment. More information on rabies post-exposure treatment can be found here.
