| The following information is taken from
the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
Rabies web page. Please visit the CDC for more information.
Do bats get rabies?
Yes. Bats are mammals and are susceptible to rabies, but most do not
have the disease. You cannot tell if a bat has rabies just by
looking at it; rabies can be confirmed only by having the animal tested in
a laboratory. To minimize the risk for rabies, it is best never to
handle any bat.
What should I do if I come in contact with a bat?
If you are bitten by a bat -- or if infectious material (such as saliva)
from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound -- wash the
affected area thoroughly and get medical attention immediately.
Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a laboratory for
rabies testing.
People usually know when they have been bitten by a bat. However,
because bats have small teeth which may leave marks that are not easily
seen, there are situations in which you should seek medical advice even in
the absence of an obvious bite wound. For example, if you awaken and
find a bat in your room, see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or
see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, seek medical
advice and have the bat tested.
People cannot get rabies just from seeing a bat in an attic, in a cave
or at a distance. In addition, people cannot get rabies from having
contact with bat guano (feces), blood or urine, or from touching a bat on
its fur (even though bats should never be handled!).
What should I do if I find a bat in my home?
If you see a bat in your home and you are sure no human or pet exposure
has occurred, confine the bat to a room by closing all doors and windows
leading out of the room except those to the outside. The bat will
probably leave soon. If not, it can be caught, as described below,
and released outdoors away from people and pets.
However, if there is any question of exposure, leave the bat alone and
call animal control or a wildlife conservation agency for assistance.
If professional assistance is unavailable, use precautions to capture the
bat safely, as described below.
What you will need:
- leather work gloves (put them on)
- small box or coffee can
- piece of cardboard
- tape
When the bat lands, approach it slowly and place a box or coffee can
over it. Slide the cardboard under the container to trap the bat
inside. Tape the cardboard to the container securely. Contact
your health department or animal control authority to make arrangements
for rabies testing. See
JCED's
procedure for submitting rabies specimens.
How can I tell if a bat has rabies?
Rabies can be confirmed only in a laboratory. However, any bat that
is active by day, is found in a place where bats are not usually seen (for
example, in rooms in your home or on the lawn), or is unable to fly, is
far more likely than others to be rabid.
Such bats are often the most easily approached. Therefore, it is
best never to handle any bat.
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