For the previously unrecognised viruses, ABL and Hendra virus, there was at that time no evidence at all. A program of serosurveillance has now been established in Australia and New Guinea, along with trapping programs to identify agents responsible for the spread of Japanese encephalitis virus, ABL and Hendra virus. The result is an improved understanding of disease activity in northern Australia and neighbouring areas, but significant research remains to be done before an accurate picture is developed to cover all areas of potential concern. At home, bat carers, and those involved with the care and management of wildlife more generally, were confronted with the real risk of a previously unknown disease infecting the animals with which they routinely worked. This emotional atmosphere made the task of ensuring dissemination of accurate information to bat-carers and the broader population quite difficult.
Media management remains an area of major significance across a broad range of public health issues.
With no readily available test for exposure before clinical illness emerged and evidence of a potentially long incubation period, a conservative approach to prophylaxis was adopted. Surprisingly, potentially avoidable bat bites and scratches continued to be reported, and post-exposure prophylaxis was often required when simple preventive measures would have been more appropriate. Equally, informed health practitioners able to provide accurate, practical advice to those bitten or scratched are a key. We now have evidence for widespread exposure of all species of bats in Australia to ABL, and also for sick and injured animals to pose a greater public health threat. We have secured our five lines in the Manual.