Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has warned against touching bats, after an eight-year-old boy died in Brisbane from lyssavirus.

The boy became ill early this month after he was bitten or scratched by a bat in north Queensland in December.

He died late on Friday in Brisbane’s Mater Hospital, according to Queensland Health authorities.

The boy was the third confirmed death from the Australian bat virus, which is similar to rabies.

It is understood his family and friends have been given post-exposure drugs as a precaution.