INFORMATION BULLETIN
Date: 16 August 2007
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Strain of bat rabies confirmed in Shropshire
A female adult Daubenton’s bat submitted to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) in Weybridge, Surrey has confirmed the presence of European Bat Lyssavirus type 2 (EBLV-2), a strain of bat rabies.
The grounded bat was found in Shropshire (SO 435816) and taken to a wildlife hospital by a member of the public. Two people were bitten by the bat and both have received appropriate medical treatment. The risk to human health is negligible as treatment is highly effective.
European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV) is a strain of the rabies virus. The strain identified in this case is EBLV-2, which is closely related to the five EBLV-2 viruses isolated previously in Great Britain.
EBLV has been isolated from 6 UK bats in the past 11 years, in Sussex, Lancashire, Surrey, Oxfordshire, and now Shropshire. The last case occurred in September 2006.
Advice from the Health Protection Agency is that if anyone is bitten by a bat the wound should be cleaned with soap and water and they should seek medical advice immediately. The risk of humans being infected by EBVL-2 is negligible if they receive appropriate and timely medical treatment after exposure.
Bats are a protected species and must not be killed or their roost damaged. EBLVs may only be transmitted by the bite of an infected bat. There is therefore no risk to humans if bats are not approached or handled by them.
Anyone who believes that they or their pets may have had direct contact with this specific bat, should contact Animal Health Office at Worcester on 01905 767111 for animal contacts and the Health Protection Agency on 020 8200 6868 for human contacts.
Anyone finding a sick or ailing bat should not approach or handle it but seek advice from the Bat Conservation Trust Helpline on 0845 1300 228 (or in Scotland SPCA on 0870 73 77722).
Further information can be found at:
www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/rabies/q&a.htm
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Page published: 16 August 2007