Taskforce investigates fatal bat virus

The equine morbillivirus, responsible for two Queensland incidents of disease and death in horses and humans, has recently been found to be a common paramyxovirus infecting flying foxes. A new lyssavirus, also isolated from flying foxes, last month recorded its first human fatality. An AVA fact sheet outlining the implications of lyssavirus and procedures for handling flying foxes was sent to all veterinarians last month. The fact sheet is accessible also via the AVA web site at http://www.ava.com.au . If you didn't receive the information sheet and would like a copy, please contact the AVA national office. A full report on lyssavirus will be in the Exotic Diseases Bulletin in next month's AVJ.