NSW Health issues an urgent warning about lyssavirus after 43 people are bitten or scratched by bats in a two-week period. Reporting across multiple outlets says the cases involve people who seek assessment after bat contact, including bites and scratches.
Outlets also note that the figure represents a rise compared with the previous year. 7News Australia reports the two-week total is higher than 10 cases reported in the same period of 2025. Several outlets describe the virus as being similar to, or more severe than, rabies, and say there is no cure, emphasizing the need for prompt medical assessment and preventive treatment.
While outlets vary slightly in wording, they align on the timing window (late September to early October), the number of people assessed (43), and that the warning is driven by an increase in bat-related injuries in NSW’s coastal region.
