FAQ
What is rabies?
Page last updated 10 July 2018
Rabies is an infection caused by a virus of the Lyssavirus family.
It infects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal. The early infection shows with flu-like symptoms, and rapidly progress to altered behaviours, coma, and death. Rabies is not found in Australia, however, it is still present in many areas of the world. In Australia, there have been a handful of rare cases of rabies-like virus from bats.
Sources & Citations
- NSW Government, Department of Health, Rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus infection fact sheet. Available at http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/infectious/factsheets/pages/rabies-australian-bat-lyssavirus-infection.aspx (accessed 5 April 2018).
- Victorian Government, Department of Health and Human Services, Rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus. Available at https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/infectious-diseases/disease-information-advice/rabies-australian-bat-lyssavirus (accessed 5 April 2018).
- World Health Organisation, Distribution of Human Risk of Contacting Rabies, Worldwide 2013. Available at http://www.who.int/rabies/Global_distribution_risk_humans_contracting_rabies_2013.png?ua=1 (accessed 5 April 2018).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rabies. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html (accessed 5 April 2018).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rabies Signs and Symptoms. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/symptoms/index.html (accessed 5 April 2018).
SPANZ.RABIE.18.04.0156a - Date of preparation May 2018
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