bats and rabies

Diana spotted him and in her rage turned all his hounds mad.

Henceforth the Earth had rabies...

On a more serious note, rabies is a viral disease which can be contracted by any mammal. In practice species differ in their susceptibility and symptoms. Rabies is an acute and deadly viral infection of the central nervous system of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Caused by a virus that is in the saliva of infected animals, rabies is usually transmitted by bites from infected animals. This disease causes a fatal inflammation of the brain, or of the brain and the spinal cord.

Rabies is almost always transmitted by a bite; however, non-bite exposures can and do occur. Contact with an infected animal’s saliva through an open wound or through the mucous membranes (eyes, nose or mouth), can result in rabies. According to Bat Conservation International, careless handling is the primary source of rabies exposure from bats.

Do bats carry rabies?

Do bats in the UK carry rabies?

Batworkers and the Bat Conservation Trust work closely with health officials to monitor the risk to the public.

Can people catch the disease from bats?

• 15 years of surveillance of bats for rabies in the UK has found only two cases.

• Human contact with bats is very rare even when they share the same buildings, and especially for Daubenton's bats, which rarely roost in houses

• EBL is transmitted by the bite of an infected bat. There is therefore no risk to people if bats are not approached or handled by them.

• Bats are not aggressive, although, like any wild animal, they may bite to defend themselves if handled. Most of the UK's bats have such small teeth that a bite will not break the skin. A bat that appears to be baring its teeth is "scanning" you with its unique echolocation voice, which you cannot hear. More than 1,000 trained voluntary batworkers in the UK handle bats regularly for conservation and welfare.

• The most common bat living in people's homes, the Pipistrelle, has never been found with EBL in the UK.

• The treatment of people bitten by bats infected with EBL1 and 2 in the UK and Europe has been completely effective. Nobody who has received the post-exposure treatment has ever contracted rabies.

  Click here to download Scottish Natural Heritage's 'Bats & Human Health' leaflet.

What should I do if I am bitten by a bat?

1. If you find a sick or injured bat:

Avoid handling the bat and call BCT's Bat Helpline on 0845 1300 228 during office hours; in Scotland only, people should call 0131 446 2424 during office hours, or 07774 161219 out of hours.

If you need to move the bat, ensure that you wear thick protective gloves so that you don't get bitten and gently place the bat in small cardboard box. Bats can squeeze through very small spaces, so keep the box well-sealed but with adequate ventilation holes. Include a piece of cloth for the bat to hide in and a bottle-top containing some fresh water for it to drink. Keep the bat like this in a dark room until you can obtain further advice.

2. On the rare occasion of being bitten by a bat:

Wash the wound immediately with soap and water for at least five minutes. Additional cleansing of the wound site with an alcohol base or other disinfectant is also recommended. Seek immediate medical advice from your GP; you can also call the NHS Direct Helpline on 0845 4647 (or 0800 783 5066 for Scotland). Keep the bat so that it can, if considered necessary, be tested for rabies so that the risk to you can be properly assessed.

Can I kill the bat if it bites me?

Bat handlers - click here for an FAQ on rabies vaccinations