WHA supports a focus group with an interest in bat health issues in Australia.

Using a collaborative One Health approach, the Bat Health Focus Group considers bat health issues in relation to the broader context of biosecurity, public health, domestic animal health and environmental impacts in Australia. Members come from organisations including Australian and State Government departments of agriculture, public health and environment, CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, universities, the Australasian Bat Society and the Australian Speleological Federation. Members include veterinarians, biologists, ecologists, virologists, epidemiologists and wildlife/bat carers. Membership of the group is by invitation.

The group has assisted the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Animal Health Australia in updating the AUSVETPLAN response strategy for lyssaviruses and provides the National Animal Health Information Program with collated information on ABLV testing in bats. The group produces a regular summary of ABLV testing of bats in Australia which can be found here.

Click here to read about the Bat Health Focus Group's 20th anniversary.