People in WA's north are being warned to leave bats alone after some recent reports of bites.

A Pilbara resident said she did not realise how serious a bat bite could be until doctors told her she would need to be treated for lyssavirus.

Bat lyssavirus is found in a small proportion of the Pilbara's bat population but can be deadly. Anyone bitten by a bat is advised to seek urgent medical attention.

Karratha resident, Elizabeth Heseltine said she was trying to get a bat out of her house when she was bitten.

She said she was concerned the bat would get stuck in her roof, or eaten by her cats, so she tried to catch it, first with a towel and then with her hands.

It was then the bat bit her.

"I didn't think anything of it — I mean, I've worked around animals my whole life and just thoug

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