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Published on: August 27, 2019
Australian Bat Lyssavirus in a child: the first reported case
Joshua R Francis1, Clare Nourse, Vikram L Vaska
1Paediatric Infection Management Service.
Insights
Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) infection is rare in humans and has not been seen in children before. This report details a fatal ABLV case in an 8-year-old child, reviewing diagnosis and management for this emerging strain.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) is a bat-borne virus with a history of rare human infections.
- Lyssavirus infections are typically fatal, necessitating prompt diagnosis and management.
- Pediatric cases of ABLV have not been previously documented.
Observation:
- A fatal case of ABLV infection is presented in an 8-year-old child.
- The child's clinical presentation and epidemiological links are detailed.
- This case represents the first reported pediatric infection with ABLV.
Findings:
- Diagnosis and management strategies for lyssavirus infections are reviewed.
- The applicability of current knowledge to this emerging strain of ABLV is considered.
- The extreme rarity of human ABLV, particularly in children, is highlighted.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for ABLV to infect pediatric populations.
- It emphasizes the need for heightened awareness and diagnostic vigilance in children with potential bat exposure.
- Further research into ABLV in children may inform public health strategies and clinical guidelines.
Abstract:
Human infection with Australian Bat Lyssavirus is extremely rare and has not previously been reported in a child. We describe a fatal case of Australian Bat Lyssavirus in an 8-year-old child, and review the literature pertaining to the diagnosis and management of lyssavirus infection with consideration of its applicability to this emerging strain.
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