Lyssavirus alert: authorities warn against handling bats
Drought is leading to an influx of stressed and dying bats to more populous areas
![Fruit bat](https://www.ausdoc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/fruit_bat_dreamstime_m_158754449-1.jpg)
Health authorities in drought-hit states are warning GPs of an increase in patients encountering bats and receiving bites or scratches that might expose them to the deadly lyssavirus.
Queensland Health has issued a public alert after a 30% increase in the number of notifications of bat and flying fox wounds in the state compared with last year.