GovWire

Guidance: Rabies in bats: how to spot it and report it

Animal Plant Health Agency

July 9
15:57 2024

It is possible, although rare, for a bat infected with rabies to pass the disease on to other mammals, including humans.

Rabies in bats is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it, you must report it immediately by:

  • calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301 in England
  • calling 03003 038 268 in Wales
  • contacting your local Field Services Office in Scotland

Failure to do so is an offence.

Signs that a bat may have rabies

Infected bats may not show any signs of rabies. Infection can only be confirmed in a laboratory.

Clinical signs in bats may include:

  • behaviour changes infected animals are prone to more aggression
  • disorientation and difficulty flying (infected bats may be injured as a result)
  • eyes taking on a staring expression

How rabies is spread

Rabies is present in the saliva of infected bats and is usually spread by the bite of an infected bat.

The disease can also be spread if the saliva of an infected animal gets into open wounds or mucous membranes such as the nostrils, mouth and lips, eyelids and ears.

Risk to humans from infected bats

Humans can catch rabies from a bat, although this is very unusual as the disease is very rare among bats in Great Britain.

In humans, symptoms of the disease include:

  • anxiety, headaches and fever in early stages
  • spasms of the swallowing muscles, making it difficult or impossible to drink
  • breathing difficulties

There are vaccinations against rabies, and the disease can normally be prevented if you are treated soon after exposure. But once signs of rabies appear, there is no treatment. Past human cases have been fatal.

Find out more about rabies in humans and what to do if you are bitten by a bat.

How to avoid catching rabies from a bat

You should be vaccinated against rabies if you regularly handle bats.

If you have not been vaccinated against the disease:

  • assume that all bats are possible carriers of rabies
  • avoid touching bats, living or dead, whenever possible
  • if you must touch a bat, follow the Bat Conservation Trust guidance and wear thick gloves to avoid being bitten or scratched

If you are bitten or scratched by a bat

If you have been bitten or scratched by a bat, or exposed to bat saliva or nervous tissue in any other way, you must:

  • wash the wound or contact area with soap and water
  • disinfect the wound
  • contact a doctor immediately, who will decide whether you need treatment

If you suspect rabies in a bat

If you suspect rabies in a bat or you see abnormal behaviour in a bat, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

APHA vets will investigate and may submit the bat for testing to see whether the signs were caused by rabies.

If you find a dead bat

If you find a dead bat:

If your pet finds a bat

It is possible, although very rare, for infected bats to pass rabies to other animals including pets.

If your pet catches a bat, keep your pet under observation.

If your pet falls sick or starts behaving unusually, you must contact your vet immediately. Your vet will tell APHA if they suspect your pet has rabies.

Monitoring rabies in bats in Great Britain

APHA tests dead bats submitted by the public to monitor how widespread the disease is in Great Britain.

Only very few have tested positive in more than 15,000 tests since 1986, so the risk of catching rabies from a bat is very low.

Locations of infected bats in the UK

Once a positive case is confirmed at a site, we will not publicise further incidents there during the given years bat season May to September.

Location Year
Wareham, Dorset 2024
Blandford Forum, Dorset 2023
Sherbourne, Dorset 2023
Tisbury, Wiltshire 2023
St Leonards and St. Ives, Dorset 2023
Curry Mallet, Somerset 2023
Winterbourne Stickland, Somerset 2023
Castle Cary, Somerset 2023
Dorchester, Dorset 2023
Blandford Forum, Dorset 2023
Plush, Dorset 2023
Lytchett Minster, Dorset 2023
Athelhampton, Dorset 2023
Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset 2023
Crewkerne, Somerset 2023
Yeovil, Somerset 2023
Highbridge, Somerset 2022
Poole, Dorset 2022
Poole, Dorset 2022
Weymouth, Dorset 2022
Dorchester, Dorset 2022
Maidstone, Kent 2022
Poole, Dorset 2022
Poole, Dorset 2022
Keinton Mandeville, Somerset 2021
Whitstable, Kent 2021
Chard, Somerset 2021
Hanbury, Worcestershire 2021
Taunton, Somerset 2020
Dorchester, Dorset 2020
Wimbourne, Dorset 2020
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire 2019
Poole, Dorset 2019
Poole, Dorset 2019
Wimbourne, Dorset 2019
Corfe Castle, Dorset 2018
East Lothian, Scotland 2018
Poole, Dorset 2018
Rothbury, Northumberland 2018
Robertsbridge, East Sussex (5 cases) 2018
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire 2018
Chesterfield, Derbyshire 2017
Haydon Bridge, Northumberland 2016
Skipton, N Yorkshire 2016
Newtown, Powys, Wales 2015
Craven Arms, Shropshire 2014
Published 26 August 2014
Last updated 9 July 2024

Related Articles

Comments

  1. We don't have any comments for this article yet. Why not join in and start a discussion.

Write a Comment

Your name:
Your email:
Comments:

Post my comment

Recent Comments

Follow Us on Twitter

Share This


Enjoyed this? Why not share it with others if you've found it useful by using one of the tools below: