Dogs And Fruitbats

[rubiton]

Thank you for the clarification jules P.

More than two have died - two vets have died, another bloke was infected and died a year or two later, Vic Rail died after tending his horses way back the first time the disease outbreak was recognised. I think there was another that was infected and died later but cant remember further details. Their droppings end up in feed and eaten by the horse and its believed from that horse gets sick and it trasmits to humans if protocols arent followed (or its not recognised in time). BUt as mentioned they dont know more about it or if it can be transmitted by other animals not just horses or if there is the possiblity for it to mutate so it can come straight from bats to humans (this is where the fear lies in particular).

Would cut down any overhanging branches and keep all animals well clear of anywhere bats were currently or had been.

[Crisovar]

Not enough is known about Hendra yet to be really sure of the exact way it is transmitted and how many species it can affect.

7 people have contracted Hendra (that we know about) and of those 4 have died.

So far all known cases have been in Queensland.

2 people have died from Lyssa Virus, and only this year 3 people were bitten by an infected bat and had to undergo treatment, Lyssa was first discovered in bats in NSW.

All in all, lock your dogs in at night whilst the bats are active, and avoid contact with bats.

[bridie]

I know the problem. We have a big mango tree in the backyard. Fortunately, our little dogs sleep inside. But going outside at night, during the fruiting period, we hear & see the big Swooooosh of fruit bats. Also every morning, I have to pick up lovely, lovely mangoes that they've taken just one bite out of!

Biggest problem here, is that their faeces get dropped on everything. Any washing on the line, the driveway & fences.

I understand completely,bats in the next door palm tree every night drove us all crazy,left with the clean-up problem,any-one know how to get this off color-bond fences&pavers it sticks like super glue