Rabies prophylaxis in Western Australia: the impact of Australian bat lyssavirus

Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis is provided by the Health Department of Western Australia to persons exposed to potentially rabid animals overseas. In addition, since the discovery of Australian bat lyssavirus in 1996, rabies prophylaxis has been provided to persons exposed or likely to be exposed to Australian bats. This article reviews the provision of rabies prophylaxis in Western Australia from July 1991 to December 1997. During this period, 101 persons received rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in Western Australia. Exposure occurred outside Australia in 91% of cases. Dogs were the most frequent source of exposure (62.4%) and Thailand was the most frequent country of exposure (34.7%). However in 1997, Australian bat exposures accounted for 37.5% of all post-exposure prophylaxis. No pre-exposure prophylaxis was given until 1997, when eight persons received rabies vaccine to protect them against possible infection with Australian bat lyssavirus. Until the epidemiology of Australian bat lyssavirus is more clearly defined, the Lyssavirus Expert Group has recommended rabies prophylaxis be given for all Australian bat exposures. In the context of Australian bat lyssavirus as an emerging infectious disease it is important to have baseline data on rabies prophylaxis to allow for future assessment of its impact.