As the fruitbat's natural habitat disappears, huge colonies of these furry creatures have taken roost in our city's botanic gardens and even in suburban back yards. But if you're tempted to offer them a helping hand, you might like to think again.

That furry fruitbat could be harbouring a nasty surprise.

Human diseases have been associated with the four most common kinds of fruitbat in Australia. In 1996, a Queensland woman died after catching a lyssavirus called ABL from a bat she was caring for. ABL belongs to the same group of diseases as rabies, different from it genetically by just 8%.