Tourist is bitten by a BAT – and is now feared to have an infectious disease that NO ONE in Australia has survived

A grandmother fears she may have contracted a deadly virus after being bitten by a bat while on holiday in Australia.

Sandi Galloway, from Geelong, was enjoying a trip to Cairns with her husband Gordon when she was attacked by the wild animal.

She was walking back to her hotel around 11 p.m. after having coffee with friends when she felt something fly near her head.

“I felt it flying around my head,” she explained.

‘I thought it was trying to land on my hair. I swiped my hand to deter me, but the bloody thing bit me twice in the forehead.”

The bite left Mrs Galloway feeling sore and her forehead has been itchy and bright red ever since.

Mrs. Galloway, who is partially blind, related Cairns Post that at first she didn’t even realize it was a bat that had attacked her.

“I kept telling myself it was probably a spider because even though part of me knew, I didn’t want to believe a bat had bitten me,” she said.

The grandmother is tested for lyssavirus, which has a 100% mortality rate in Australia.

Mrs. Galloway did not initially go to her doctor, but did so after her daughter told her she could have rabies. She was then referred to the infectious diseases department.

She now thinks she has lyssavirus because of her symptoms.

The grandmother has had five injections and will have three more as doctors try to ward off an infection.

Only three people have contracted lyssavirus since 1996 – all from bat bites or scratches – and all three victims have died.

All three cases occurred in Queensland and one involved an eight-year-old boy.

Ms Galloway believes the bats should be moved outside the city centre.

‘It’s ridiculous to have them in the middle of the city. “I think it’s horrible that this happened on holiday when I should have been enjoying myself, but instead stayed inside afterwards for fear it would happen again,” she said.

“It would be best for Cairns to remove the bats from the city and move them to an area that is not as busy.”

Cairns Regional Council has previously successfully relocated flying fox populations from busy CBD locations.

“The Council’s Flying Fox Colony Management General Policy outlines a multifaceted and balanced approach to flying fox management, using scientific advice and data to determine appropriate actions,” a council spokesperson said.

‘The policy means that the health and welfare of people should be prioritized over the health and welfare of flying foxes, if there is a conflict between the two.

‘This is a very rare but alarming incident. However, if the council is made aware of an important flying fox habitat that could cause conflict between people and the flying foxes, signage will be placed throughout the site to raise community awareness.”