To the Editor: Australian bat lyssavirus (ABL) has the potential to cause fatal encephalitis in humans exposed to infection through bat bites or scratches. There is no cure for rabies currently available, so postexposure prophylaxis with rabies vaccine and rabies immune globulin is recommended following potential human exposure, such as after bites or scratches.
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- 1. National Health and Medical Research Council. The Australian immunisation handbook. 9th ed. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2008. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/Handbook–home (accessed Aug 2011).
- 2. World Health Organization. Rabies vaccines: WHO position paper. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 2010; 85: 309-320. http://www.who.int/wer/2010/wer8532.pdf (accessed Aug 2011).
- 3. Young MK, McCall BJ. Potential exposure to Australian bat lyssavirus in south east Queensland: what has changed in 12 years? Comm Dis Intell 2010; 34: 334-338.
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We thank Frederick Moore for testing of the bat.
No relevant disclosures.