Health authorities study lyssavirus
Scientists should know within six months if the family dog or cat can carry
the deadly bat-borne lyssavirus.
The rabies-related virus has claimed the life of a Rockhampton wildlife carer, and a Mackay woman remains in a critical condition in Mackay Base Hospital after being bitten by a bat.
Australian Animal Health Laboratory chief Mike Rickard says extensive research is being directed on a number of fronts in a bid to learn more about the virus.
"There are a lot of issues related to the interactions between bats and other sorts of animals," he said.
"A question people are wanting answers to is what is the susceptibility of some of our domestic animals - cats and dogs - to the virus and they are all things we are going to examine."
