SYDNEY — A man in his 50s from northern New South Wales has died from Australian bat lyssavirus, a rabies-like infection contracted from a bat bite months earlier, health officials said.

NSW Health confirmed the “extremely rare” case and extended condolences to his family, noting there’s no effective treatment once symptoms appear.

The man, hospitalised in critical condition earlier this week, was bitten by a bat carrying the virus, which is transmitted through saliva via bites or scratches. Officials are investigating whether other factors contributed.

The disease, first identified in 1996, has only three previous human cases in Australia — all fatal. Symptoms can appear days or even years later, starting with fever and headache, then progressing rapidly to paralysis, delirium, coma, and death.

Health authorities urged the public never to handle bats, warning all bats could carry the virus. Only trained, vaccinated wildlife handlers should interact with them.

Anyone bitten or scratched should immediately wash the wound thoroughly, apply antiseptic, and seek rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin treatment.

The bat species involved in this latest case has not been identified.