My heart bleeds for the family of the young boy who died from lyssa virus today.  I am sure that his death was an awful situation, for him as well as the family.

Some media coverage here -
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/boy-dies-after-contracting-bat-virus/story-fn3dxiwe-1226583924440

So what is lyssa virus you say?

It is a bat borne virus very similar to rabies in action, which can be caught by humans usually by a bite or scratch from a bat.  That happening is unusual in itself as they tend to avoid humans, and their radar system is operational, unless they are sick.  In this case the boy was bitten on the finger, inside the house.

It would appear that he was not treated as soon as possible.  The treatment is the same as if bitten by a rabid animal, using rabies treatment injections.

I was scratched on the head by a bat one evening at home myself, and made very definite efforts through vet colleagues to find out what was the best treatment options - which meant getting to casualty at the hospital, for immediate wound cleansing.  And the very next morning starting the anti rabies injection schedule. 

I had already had rabies injections as was working overseas in an area where rabies occurred reasonably regularly, so was aware of the need to do something in preparation, and knew post bite/ scratch treatment was needed when there.

Rabies / lyssa virus are NOT NICE, and inevitably kill if not treated quickly by vaccine injections.

There used to be a super dramatic black and white movie clip that AQIS used to show of a rabid person in Iran or Iraq, probably of imagery from the 1960s or so.  Have seen and never forgotten that.

RULE ONE - if suspect rabies or lyssa virus GET TREATMENT ASAP!!!!

RULE TWO - REFER TO RULE ONE.

[dogs, monkeys and other mammals typically show mad, out of character agressive behaviour]