But the bat is an essential part of our ecology and many native plants are dependent on it for spreading seeds and for pollination. The reason that these diseases are emerging could very well be a result of human action. We could be paying the price of many years of clearing land that was traditionally bat habitat, especially around towns and cities. We reap what we sow. Questioning the wisdom of land clearance is one thing we can do.
Education is another.
Very little, I suspect. Greater vaccination against rabies by those at risk is another measure. It is worrying that a recent survey of Queensland health found that many people who are in contact with bats seek help after they are bitten or scratched, when treatment is more rigorous and expensive, rather than being vaccinated before being exposed. And should we be treating bats and viruses more as a public health issue rather than as a threat to livestock, which is how it has tended to be viewed in the past. The recent case in Mackay suggest we should.