With the festival season now in full swing, South Australians attending events within the Adelaide parklands are reminded to avoid direct contact with bats to avoid contracting potentially fatal diseases.
The Department for Health and Wellbeing’s Director of Health Protection, Michaela Hobby, said bats should only be handled by appropriately trained and vaccinated animal handlers.
“Bats can carry a range of serious diseases, including Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL), which is a rabieslike disease that can be transmitted to humans if they are bitten or scratched by an infected bat,” Ms Hobby said.
“Last year there were nine bat exposures in SA that required precautionary treatment, including rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulins.
“While less than one per cent of bats carry ABL and no cases have been recorded in SA, there have been three fatal reported cases of ABL in Australia since 1996.
“The development of ABL from bat bites or scratches can be prevented through prompt wound management and post exposure prophylaxis. If treatment of ABL is delayed until after the onset of symptoms, the condition can be fatal.
“Like most wild animals, healthy bats are naturally shy and will not approach humans or allow themselves to be handled. However during the warmer months of the year, it’s more common to see young bats on the ground due to misadventure and also because they are more sensitive to extreme heat and can fall from trees.”
The Department for Environment and Water’s Jason VanWeenan, said while the likelihood of coming into contact with bats was still low, the Adelaide grey-headed flying-fox colony has increased considerably over the last few years.
“In metropolitan Adelaide, there now about 25,000 flying-foxes in the Botanic Park camp, but it is important to remember that even the much smaller microbats should only be handled by vaccinated professionals,” Mr VanWeenen said.
“Bats play an integral role in the ecology of the natural environment and are protected in Australia under State and Commonwealth law, with the grey-headed flying-fox listed as a vulnerable species.
“If you see a large or small bat on the ground – living or dead – do not touch it under any circumstance. Instead, contact Fauna Rescue SA or Bat Rescue SA.”
If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, or come into contact with bat saliva, you should take immediate action by:
• Cleaning the area with soap and water for at least five minutes
• Applying antiseptic such as povidone-iodine
• Contacting a doctor or hospital emergency department
• Commencing a course of post-exposure prophylaxis if necessary
If you do come across a bat that appears to be dead, injured or in distress, contact the Fauna Rescue SA bat helpline on 08 8486 1139 or Bat Rescue SA on 0475 132 093.
For more information about bat safety, visit SA Health’s website www.sahealth.sa.gov.au
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