Question and answers for the general public on bats
1. What is bat rabies?
2. Is there bat rabies in Britain?
3. Have there been any other incidents of bat rabies in the
UK?
4. How do people catch bat rabies?
5. What should I do if I am bitten or scratched by a bat?
6. What should I do if I suspect that a bat has rabies?
7. Can bat rabies be passed to other animals?
8. My pet dog/cat caught a bat recently/some time ago. What
should I do?
9. Should I get rid of my local bats?
10. I have bats in my buildings. What should I do?
11. What do I do if I find a sick or injured bat?
12. What should I do if I find a dead bat?
13. What should I do if there is a bat flying around in
my house?
14. I work with bats. What should I do?
15. Do I need routine rabies vaccination?
16. What has the Government done?
17. Are any results available from this surveillance?
18. Where are these bats found?
19. What does the law say about bats and rabies?
1. What is bat rabies?
A. European Bat Lyssaviruses (EBLVs) 1 and 2, commonly referred to as bat rabies, are two strains of rabies-related lyssaviruses found in bats across Northern Europe. On rare occasions EBLVs have been known to infect other animals and humans. The risk of EBLV infection to humans is thought to be low. However, since 1977 there have been five human deaths in Europe (three confirmed, two possible) from EBLVs, all in cases where the human had been bitten or scratched by bats and had not received rabies vaccination either before or after being bitten by bats.
2. Is there bat rabies in Britain?
A. To date seven infections with EBLV 2 have been confirmed in bats in the UK despite the testing of around 200 bats a year since 1986 for the virus.
- May 2008 in Surrey EBLV2 was confirmed in a Daubenton’s bat. More information can be found in a Defra Information Bulletin.
- August 2007 in Shropshire EBLV 2 was confirmed in a female Daubenton’s bat. More information can be found in a Defra Information Bulletin.
- September 2006 in Oxfordshire EBLV 2 was confirmed in a female Daubenton's bat. The grounded bat was found by members of the public and taken into the care of experienced bat conservation group volunteers'. More information can be found on the Defra news release.
- September 2004 in Surrey when EBLV 2 was confirmed in a juvenile female Daubenton’s bat. The grounded bat was moved under cover by a member of the public, where it remained for several days between 17 and 21 September. It was then taken into the care of experienced bat conservation group volunteers and died on 23 September.
- October 2002 in Lancashire when EBLV 2 was confirmed in a Daubenton’s bat. The injured bat died on 2 October 2003 and was stored in a freezer until it was sent for testing on 26 October 2004.
- September 2002 in Lancashire when EBLV 2 was confirmed in a Daubenton’s bat which was behaving uncharacteristically and was involved in a human biting incident. The person involved received post-exposure treatment and did not develop rabies.
- May 1996 in Sussex when EBLV 2 was confirmed in a Daubenton’s bat was found to be infected with EBLV 2.
3. Have there been any other incidents of bat rabies in the UK?
A. In November 2002, an unvaccinated bat handler in Angus, Scotland died from infection with EBLV 2 and is thought to have had contact with numerous bats.
4. How do people catch bat rabies?
A. EBLV is spread from bats through a bite, scratch or through contact with mucous membranes (e.g. eyes, nose, mouth). Therefore if people do not handle bats they are not at risk from EBLVs.
5. What should I do if I am bitten or scratched by a bat?
A. In the event of possible exposure, first, and as soon as possible after the incident, clean the wound thoroughly by washing with soap or detergent under a running tap for several minutes. Do not scrub the wound. Then flush out all traces of soap. Additional cleansing of the wound site with an alcohol base or other disinfectant is also recommended. Cover the wound with a simple dressing and immediately seek medical advice. Do not panic. Immediate medical treatment on being bitten is extremely effective in ensuring that you will not develop rabies.
6. What should I do if I suspect that a bat has rabies?
A. By law, if you suspect any animal, including a bat, of having rabies, you must immediately report it to your local Defra Animal Health Office or Local Authority. Anyone finding a bat, whether it appears to be sick or ailing, or healthy, should not approach or handle it.
See also questions 11 and 12..
7. Can bat rabies be passed to other animals?
A. The viruses carried by bat species native to the UK are not classical rabies virus, i.e. the rabies strain carried by animals such as dogs, cats, foxes etc. EBLVs very rarely cross the species barrier from bats to other animals or humans. There have been no recorded cases in the UK of bats infecting wildlife or pet animals with rabies. However, on two occasions sheep have been infected with EBLV 1 in Denmark and the same strain was detected in a stone marten in Germany.
8. My pet dog/cat caught a bat recently/some time ago. What should I do?
A. Keep your pet under observation. If the animal falls sick, shows nervous signs or starts behaving abnormally you should take it to your veterinary surgeon and give a full history of the incident.
9. Should I get rid of my local bats?
A. No. Bats are protected species and must not be disturbed, killed or their roosts damaged or destroyed.
10. I have bats in my buildings. What should I do?
A. People are not at risk if they have no direct contact with bats. As a precaution if anyone comes across a bat they should not handle it. If the bat is injured or needs moving they should ring the Bat Conservation Trust Helpline on 0845 130 0228 for advice. In Scotland, if the bat appears uninjured, they may also phone the Scottish Natural Heritage Bat Helpline on 01738 458663 for pre-recorded advice or, if the bat appears injured, they can also contact the Scottish SPCA on 0870 7377722. All the incidents in the UK so far have involved Daubenton’s bats which do not commonly roost in houses.
11. What should I do if I find a sick or injured bat?
A. If you find a bat do not handle it. If it seems to be injured or sick, or needs to be moved,seek advice from a local bat conservation group or the Bat Conservation Trust Helpline on 0845 130 0228. In Scotland you can also contact the Scottish SPCA on 0870 7377722.
12. What should I do if I find a dead bat?
A: Before attempting to move the bat, contact the Bat Conservation Trust or your local Animal Health Office for advice. We would appreciate it if you would send the bat to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) for rabies testing under our passive surveillance scheme. Please complete form BAT 1 and enclose it with the bat. Specimen tubes and FREEPOST envelopes are available from the Bat Conservation Trust. By doing so you will help to increase our knowledge of bat rabies in the UK.
13. What should I do if there is a bat flying around in my house?
A. You should close the doors to the rest of the house, open the room’s windows and curtains and turn off the light. The bat should then fly out. You can get further advice from the Bat Conservation Trust Helpline on 0845 130 0228. In Scotland you can also phone the Scottish Natural Heritage Bat Helpline on 01738 458663 for pre-recorded advice.
14. I work with bats. What should I do?
A. If you work with or regularly handle bats you should seek advice on vaccination from your local GP and discuss this with your employer. Further information is supplied by the Bat Conservation Trust.
15. Do I need routine rabies vaccination?
A. No, not unless in the course of your work you may be at risk of exposure to infection e.g. you regularly handle bats. You can seek advice from your general practitioner. If you handle bats as part of your work, and a risk assessment reveals the need for vaccination, employers should make vaccination free of charge to you. You should always wear protective gloves when handling bats even if you are vaccinated.
16. What has the Government done?
A. Since 1986, Defra has tested over 6,000 dead bats for EBLV and except for the incidents recorded in answer 2, EBLV 2 has not been found. In 2003, various Government agencies and departments began surveillance into the extent EBLV in bats in England and Scotland. In 2004, a three year study, funded by Defra, began in England. Further work is also being conducted in Scotland by the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage. The Defra study is now complete.
17. Are any results available from this surveillance?
A. This surveillance has indicated that there are antibodies to rabies in a very small proportion of Daubenton’s bats in England. This indicates that they have been exposed to the rabies virus at some time during their lives. There is therefore a small risk of rabies infection from contact with bats. A news release has been published about the results of the study.
A single serotine bat was found to be EBLV1 antibody positive in 2004 but none was found to have antibodies to EBLV 1 in 2005 or 2006. The full results of the study will be available in due course.
18. Where are these bats found?
Daubenton's bats are found throughout most of the UK, while serotine bats are found across southern England and Wales. The Daubenton’s bat mainly roosts in trees whereas the rarer serotine roosts in buildings.
19. What does the law say about bats and rabies?
A. Bats are legally protected species and must not be disturbed, killed or their roosts damaged or destroyed. If you have any questions about bats, contact the BCT Helpline on 0845 130 0228.
By law, if you suspect any animal, including a bat, of having rabies, you must immediately report it to your local Animal Health Office or Local Authority.
Further information can be found on the following websites:
Page last modified:
June 12, 2008