Topic: Australian Bat Lyssavirus

Sheba · Guru

Hendra Virus.

bill12 · Guru

I had 3 vets on my boat , today, and hendra came up in conversation. They seem to support culling the bats on farms or stations where there are horses. They also said that a anti venine or cure is in the pipepine, but will be expensive. In my part of the world , there are millions of bats, and culling will not do any harm. There definately seems to be a conection between the bat droppings and the horses , who shelter under the trees the bats are in.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Depends who you talk to re culling of the bats - we have a colony of about 1200, apparently, in our little park behind the visitors centre, and they are protected varieties - they are ruining the trees, smell awful, make a hell of a noise, and are a source of interest for the many tourists who stop in the park. A horse person nearby was saying that people just need to be alert, and fence big flowering trees in their paddocks off - and keep everything spotlessly clean - I suppose the general public really don't have too much to worry about with this virus, unless they have close contact with horses. The bats in our park were the subject of a report in the Courier Mail on Sunday.

Cruising Granny · Guru

While the bats are protected, there is definitely a need for some culling in some places.
They hang from the trees in central Cairns and then in the evening move out to find fruit to feed on, depending on what is ripe at the time.
They do carry diseases and happily spread them.
Everything in nature has its place, including humans, and we need to share space as healthily as possible.
This virus doesn't kill bats, just horses and people.
What about other domestic animals like dogs, cats and birds?
Does anyone know?

-- Edited by Cruising Granny on Wednesday 13th of July 2011 08:34:17 PM

gubby · Guru

Wrong Jules, Humans can also get it from the bats, it's a form of Rabies.

Steer well clear of the bats and their droppings...

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I know we can contract diseases from bats grub - I suppose what I really meant to say was to stay away from the bat infested areas, as well as being careful around horses etc - just didn't say it all clearly enough - sorry.

rockylizard · Guru

gubby wrote:
Wrong Jules, Humans can also get it from the bats, it's a form of Rabies.
Steer well clear of the bats and their droppings...

Gday...

This link to the QLD DPI site seems to suggest bat-to-human transmission of Hendra disease is very rare ... it is bat-to-horse, horse-to-human. Obviously care needed but the bats are not a direct threat to humans.

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_11127.htm

Cheers

John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Wednesday 13th of July 2011 09:28:22 PM

Sheba · Guru

The sky used to be Black with them at certain times of the year for up to 15-20 minutes at a time at Temple Bay on Cape York. We had a Fruit orchard , but never had a problem with them, and they used to roost quite close to the house area, in the Rainforest.

Like most things, when their Habitat is destroyed, they become a pest in their search for food.

As I said to Jules earlier, why don't people keep their Horses' food and water covered, to minimise the risk. Surely that's basic common sense. That's what the Vet was advising on the news earlier.

Cheers,

Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Wednesday 13th of July 2011 09:29:13 PM

bill12 · Guru

I suppose its what you think is more important- bats or horses or humans. I would definately cull them if they becanme a threat to me or my family.Common sense is good- but its not all that common, thats the problem.

BobnBev · Senior Member

Thats the best quote Ive seen for a while Bill, and oh so true!!! and Im with you..

Common sense is good- but its not all that common, thats the problem.

gubby · Guru

rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
This link to the QLD DPI site seems to suggest bat-to-human transmission of Hendra disease is very rare ... it is bat-to-horse, horse-to-human. Obviously care needed but the bats are not a direct threat to humans.
http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_11127.htm
Cheers
John

Topic: Australian Bat Lyssavirus

Description

Australian bat lyssavirus (ABL) is a virus that can be transmitted from bats to humans, causing serious illness. The virus was first identified in 1996 and has been found in four kinds of flying foxes/fruit bats and one species of insect-eating microbat. Evidence of previous infection has been found in blood tests from a number of other bat species. It is therefore assumed that any bat in Australia could potentially carry the virus. The behaviour or appearance of a bat is not an accurate guide to whether it is carrying the virus.

Since November 1996, two people have died as a result of ABL infection after being bitten by bats. ABL is one of seven types of lyssavirus which are found around the world. Six of these are known to exist in bats but only ABL is known to occur in Australia. ABL is closely related but not identical to rabies, a serious and invariably fatal disease in humans.

Symptoms

ABL infection in humans causes a serious illness which results in paralysis, delirium, convulsions and death. Death is usually due to respiratory paralysis.

http://access.health.qld.gov.au/hid/InfectionsandParasites/ViralInfections/australianBatLyssavirus_fs.asp

-- Edited by gubby on Thursday 14th of July 2011 08:38:10 PM

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

Got the message Gubby ..... but we were all talking abour Hendra Virus - interestingly, this is the background of ABVL (it is more dangerous crossing the street)

Bat lyssavirus and human health

ABLV has caused two human deaths. The first occurred in November 1996 when an animal carer was scratched by a Yellow-bellied Sheath-tailed Bat. Onset of a rabies-like illness occurred 45 weeks following the incident, with death twenty days later. ABLV was identified from brain tissue by PCR and immunohistochemistry.

In August 1996, a woman in Queensland was bitten on the finger by a flying fox while attempting to remove it from a child it had landed on. Six months later, following heightened public attention from the first ABLV death, she consulted a GP regarding testing for the virus. Post exposure treatment was advised but declined. After a 27 month incubation a rabies-like illness developed. The condition worsened after hospital admission and she died 19 days after the onset of illness

So let's not get scratched by a bat............

Cheers

John

gubby · Guru

There was an article on the channel seven news in Melbourne last night about the fruit bats in Kew, they were warning people not to come in contact with them or their droppings.

I realise it's not common but I definately wouldn't chance getting to close to them.