South Australians are being warned not to handle injured bats following an increase in heat stressed bats falling to the ground in the hot weather and being rescued by well meaning people.
Bats may look cute and harmless and in need rescuing but a bite or scratch from them has the potential to transmit lyssavirus to people and infection with lyssavirus is almost always fatal.
Lyssavirus is transmitted to people thro infected siliva, that comes into contact with broken skin, such as with a bite wound, scratch or cut, but it can also infect people by coming into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth.