 The first concern many people have about bats is rabies. Like most mammals, bats can
contract rabies. However, less than one half of one percent of bats actually
catch the
disease. Additionally, sick bats do not seek people out for attack;
they generally search for a secluded spot to die quietly. According to the Center for Disease Control,
people cannot get rabies from just 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).
However, if you are bitten by a bat, or if saliva from a bat gets
into your eyes, nose or mouth, seek medical attention immediately.
Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a
laboratory for testing. In addition, bats that are
found in a room with a person who cannot reliably rule out physical contact (for example a
sleeping person, a child, a mentally disabled person or an intoxicated person) will need
to be tested for rabies. If contact has occurred or is suspected call your personal physician or
local health department immediately. If contact has not
occurred please proceed to the links above to obtain step-by-step directions on how to safely rescue the bat. |
