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Dear Marg,
The disease that you refer to that can be
transmitted by being bitten or scratched by Flying Foxes (or micro bats) is
Lissa virus which is similar to rabies.
What I'm concerned about is Hendra virus
which is known to have killed 4 humans who were associated with horses that
are believed to have been infected by Flying Foxes via their faeces. As far as I
know no humans have been infected directly by Flying Foxes via their faeces
but I wouldn't like to be the first one. Children playing under the roost
trees could easily come in contact with it and ingest a tiny
amount by not washing their hands properly before eating. Have there
been any tests done to determine how susceptible humans are infection by Hendra
virus from bat droppings? Is there any guarantee that the risk is
zero or are we running an experiment without the subject's knowledge waiting to
see who will be the unlucky person?
Regards
Peter
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