Australian Bat Lyssavirus in Australia - an inter-sectoral "One Health" Approach to Disease Management

Abstract

Australian bat lyssavirus causes disease in bats and, on two occasions in the 1990 s, also caused a fatal meningoencephalitis in humans; there have been no reports of disease in other animals resulting from ABLV infection. Data on bat diseases in Australia have been collected under the Bat Surveillance Project Australian Wildlife Health Network since 1996. The data have informed understanding of the potential risks of ABLV to human and animal health and the development of relevant animal and public health policy. In Australia human rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) is used as part of an ABLV post exposure treatment protocol. In recent years there has been increased demand for RIG for post exposure prophylaxis of Australians exposed to potentially rabid animals while overseas. There is now considerable pressure on this increasingly scarce resource. This paper discusses the commitment of Commonwealth and State Government health and wildlife agencies to a ‘partnership’ approach under the One Health’’ concept, relating to the use of scarce therapeutic resources, and national surveillance capabilities for diseases emerging from wildlife, many of which affect trade, human health and biodiversity.