White-nose syndrome
Report any suspected cases to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888
Key signs to look out for are:
Key signs to look out for are:
- visible white fungus (particularly on the bat's nose)
- mass mortalities of cave-dwelling bats
- abnormal behaviour, such as bats flying outside during the day.
- White-nose-syndrome - General information on white-nose syndrome and an up-to-date map on the current spread of WNS in North America (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
- White-nose syndrome - Protecting Australian bats - Details on current activities to reduce the risk of introduction of WNS into Australia, and to better prepare Australia in case the disease were to be found here.
- Qualitative risk assessment: White-nose syndrome in bats in Australia - Wildlife Health Australia, with funding from the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment commissioned a disease risk assessment for the potential introduction of white-nose syndrome to Australia. This report was prepared by a team of experts led through the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the South Australian Museum, DELWP (Arthur Rylah Institute) Victoria and the University of Adelaide.
- White-nose Syndrome Response Guidelines - These guidelines have been developed by Wildlife Health Australia in consultation with stakeholder groups, to assist response agencies in the event of an incursion of the exotic disease white-nose syndrome into bats in Australia.
- WNS game - A strategy, survival, puzzle game developed by Arbor Interactive.
Caving in Australia hygiene
International cavers visiting Australia represent a risk for the introduction of WNS.
The fungus that causes WNS has been found in many parts of the world, including Europe and China, so even if you have not visited a cave in North America, your gear could still be contaminated.
If you will be visiting Australia:
The fungus that causes WNS has been found in many parts of the world, including Europe and China, so even if you have not visited a cave in North America, your gear could still be contaminated.
If you will be visiting Australia:
- do not bring clothing, footwear and caving gear that has been used in other countries
- contact Australian caving groups to ask about loan gear
- if you must bring personal gear comply with the published cleaning protocols to decontaminate gear before and after field trips.
- Guideline for decontamination of clothing and footwear -A North American multiagency working group produces guidelines for the decontamination of clothing and footwear after visiting caves. Be aware that decontamination may not completely remove or destroy the fungus. The protocol recommends that gear used in an affected cave is not used in ‘clean’ caves.
