C3.cases

C3 cases are when a HUMAN has been bitten or scratched by a bat. These incidences are handled by QLD Health and legally need to be notified to QLD Health immediately!

  • Public Health Unit: 07 5667 3200
  • after-hours call the Gold Coast Switchboard and ask for the on-call public health unit: 1300 744 284

In case of a C3 incident, get in touch with your local QLD Health Department immediately, they will talk you through the next steps. In recent time, they usually opt for rabies-vaccination of the affected person (as soon as possible) and may not request the animal to be tested for ABLV (Australian Bat Lyssavirus); but the final decision on this is made on a per-case basis by the QLD Health Department in charge for the area where the incident occurred.

If the bat is still alive, DO NOT HANDLE it and call our BatsQLD rescue hotline (0447 222 889) for a trained volunteer to come and pick it up!

For more info on what to do when you got bitten by a bat, see:

If you are a rescuer or carer with BatsQLD and you got bitten or scratched, please inform our President of the incident and they’ll guide you through the process.

C2.cases

C2 cases are when an ANIMAL (dog, cat etc.) has been bitten or scratched by a bat. These incidences are handled by QLD Biosecurity. While they legally do not need to be reported, concerned pet owners or members of the public can submit specimen to QLD Biosecurity for ABLV (Australian Bat Lyssavirus) testing. The testing service is free of charge, but the cost for transport to the QLD Biosecurity lab has to be covered by the requester (pet owner).

If the bat is still alive, do NOT handle it and call our rescue hotline (0447 222 889) for a trained volunteer to come and pick it up. If the bat is deceased, use gloves, a towel or scoop it up with a dustpan and double bag in plastic bags. Store the body of the deceased bat in the fridge (NOT in the freezer) and submit to the Biosecurity laboratory for testing as soon as possible (best on the same or next day). QLD Biosecurity has a lab in Coopers Plains (south end of Brisbane, details below), where specimen can be dropped off at a reception window (by anybody, it’s polite to call ahead and inform of the dropoff though). Alternatively, transport can be arranged through a courier service – arranging courier transport and covering the cost for transport is up to the requester (pet owner).

If the bat is still alive and does not require euthanasia due to its injuries, it will be kept by a qualified wildlife carer for a period of at least 10 days to observe the onset of any neurological symptoms, which may indicate an active ABLV infection. If the bat does not show any neurological signs during this time period, an active infection with ABLV can be excluded. If the bat shows neurological symptoms or dies during this period, testing can still be arranged at this point in time.

For more info on what to do when your pet had contact with a bat:

QLD Biosecurity – Forensic Services

  • Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory – Health and Food Precinct
  • Loading Dock 12 – Specimen Receipt
  • 39 Kessels Road
  • Coopers Plains QLD 4108
  • opening hours Mon-Fri 8 am to 5 pm
  • Biosecurity Hotline: 132 523
  • Forensic Services Phone: 07 3276 6114

Cold Transport Courier Service (example)

  • ‘Quick As A Flash’ Couriers Molendinar – Phone 07 5564 6665
  • ask for same day delivery of a biological specimen, cost approx AUD$40-50 from GC to BNE
  • double bag the specimen and send in a syrofoam esky with cooling bricks or ice