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What
is rabies and how do people get it?
Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system
of humans and other mammals. People get rabies from the bite of an animal
with rabies (a rabid animal). Any wild mammal, like a raccoon, skunk,
fox, coyote, or bat, can have rabies and transmit it to people. It is
also possible, but quite rare, that people may get rabies if infectious
material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their
eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.
Because rabies
is a fatal disease, the goal of public health is, first, to prevent human
exposure to rabies by education and, second, to prevent the disease by
anti-rabies treatment if exposure occurs. Tens of thousands of people
are successfully treated each year after being bitten by an animal that
may have rabies. A few people die of rabies each year in the United States,
usually because they do not recognize the risk of rabies from the bite
of a wild animal and do not seek medical advice.
Why
should I learn about bats and rabies?
Most of the recent human rabies cases in the United States have been caused
by rabies virus from bats. Awareness of the facts about bats and rabies
can help people protect themselves, their families, and their pets. This
information may also help clear up misunderstandings about bats.
When people
think about bats, they often imagine things that are not true. Bats are
not blind. They are neither rodents nor birds. They will not suck your
blood -- and most do not have rabies. Bats play key roles in ecosystems
around the globe, from rain forests to deserts, especially by eating insects,
including agricultural pests. The best protection we can offer these unique
mammals is to learn more about their habits and recognize the value of
living safely with them.
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A
male red bat rests for the day in a maple tree during
fall migration south from Canada. Males are more
brightly colored than females. |
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A
hoary bat pauses in a hemlock tree. It is one of
America's largest and most strikingly colored bats. |
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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 a room 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.
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 advice immediately. Whenever possible,
the bat should be captured and sent to a laboratory for rabies testing
(see: How can I safely capture a bat in my home?).
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 my pet is exposed to a bat?
If you think your pet or domestic animal has been bitten by a bat, contact
a veterinarian or your health department for assistance immediately and
have the bat tested for rabies. Remember to keep vaccinations current
for cats, dogs, and other animals.
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Mexican
free-tailed bats are easily recognized by their tails,
which extend well beyond the tail membrane. Its long,
narrow wings are designed for speed and long-distance
travel. |
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How
can I keep bats out of my home?
Some bats live in buildings, and there may be no reason to evict them
if there is little chance for contact with people. However, bats should
always be prevented from entering rooms of your home. For assistance with"bat-proofing"
your home, contact an animal-control or wildlife conservation agency.
If you choose to do the "bat-proofing" yourself, here are some
suggestions. Carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats
entry into your living quarters. Any openings larger than a quarter-inch
by a half-inch should be caulked. Use window screens, chimney caps, and
draft-guards beneath doors to attics, fill electrical and plumbing holes
with stainless steel wool or caulking, and ensure that all doors to the
outside close tightly.
Additional
"bat-proofing" can prevent bats from roosting in attics or buildings
by covering outside entry points. Observe where the bats exit at dusk
and exclude them by loosely hanging clear plastic sheeting or bird netting
over these areas. Bats can crawl out and leave, but cannot re-enter. After
the bats have been excluded, the openings can be permanently sealed. For
more information about "bat-proofing" your home, contact Bat
Conservation International.
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The
big brown bat is found throughout most of the United States
and Canada. It feeds principally on beetles. |
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Things
to remember when "bat-proofing"
- During
summer, many young bats are unable to fly. If you exclude adult bats
during this time, the young may be trapped inside and die or make their
way into living quarters. Thus, if possible, avoid exclusion from May
through August.
- Most bats
leave in the fall or winter to hibernate, so these are the best times
to "bat-proof" your home.
How
can I safely capture a bat in my home?
If a bat is present in your home and you cannot rule out the possibility
of exposure, leave the bat alone and contact an animal-control or
public health agency for assistance. If professional help 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, while wearing the gloves, and
place the box or coffee can over it. Slide the cardboard under the
container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard to the container
securely, and punch small holes in the cardboard, allowing the bat
to breathe. Contact your health department or animal-control authority
to make arrangements for rabies testing.
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,
and released outdoors away from people and pets.
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The
little brown bat is one of America's most abundant and
widespread species. It is often found roosting in attics
or barns. |
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How
can rabies be prevented?
- Teach
children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even
if they appear friendly. "Love your own, leave other animals alone"
is a good principle for children to learn.
- Wash any
wound from an animal thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical
attention immediately.
- Have all
dead, sick, or easily captured bats tested for rabies if exposure to
people or pets occurs.
- Prevent
bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches,
schools, and other similar areas where they might contact people and
pets.
- Be a responsible
pet owner by keeping vaccinations current for all dogs, cats, and ferrets,
keeping your cats and ferrets inside and your dogs under direct supervision,
calling animal control to remove stray animals from your neighborhood,
and consider having your pets spayed or neutered.
Case
study
In February 1995, the aunt of a 4-year-old girl was awakened by
the sounds of a bat in the room where the child was sleeping. The
child did not wake up until the bat was captured, killed, and discarded.
The girl reported no bite, and no evidence of a bite wound was found
when she was examined. One month later the child became sick and
died of rabies. The dead bat was recovered from the yard and tested--it
had rabies.
This
case demonstrates several points:
- This
child's infection with rabies was most likely the result of a
bat bite. Children sleep heavily and may not awaken from the presence
of a small bat. A bat bite can be superficial and not easily noticed.
- The
bat was behaving abnormally. Instead of hiding, the bat was making
unusual noises and was having difficulty flying. This strange
behavior should have led to a strong suspicion of rabies.
- If
the bat had been submitted for rabies testing, a positive test
would have led to life-saving anti-rabies treatment.
Remember,
in situations in which a bat is physically present and you cannot
reasonably rule out having been bitten, safely capture the bat for
rabies testing and seek medical attention immediately.
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Silver-haired
bats often roost in tree cavities or in bark crevices
on tree trunks, especially during migration. Their unique
coloration makes them difficult to find. Most recent human
rabies deaths have been due to a strain of rabies associated
with this species. |
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Are
bats beneficial?
Yes. Worldwide, bats are a major predator of night-flying insects, including
pests that cost farmers billions of dollars annually. Throughout the tropics,
seed dispersal and pollination activities by bats are vital to rain forest
survival. In addition, studies of bats have contributed to medical advances
including the development of navigational aids for the blind. Unfortunately,
many local populations of bats have been destroyed and many species are
now endangered.
Where
can I learn more about bats?
Contact your state or local wildlife conservation agency or Bat Conservation
International:
Bat Conservation International, Inc.
P O Box 162603
Austin, Texas 78716
www.batcon.org
To learn
more about endangered bats and the Endangered Species Act, contact the
US Fish and Wildlife Service:
U S Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Endangered Species
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 452
Arlington, Virginia 22203
www.fws.gov
Where
can I learn more about rabies?
Contact your state or local health department or the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Rabies Section MS G-33
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies
The
photos that appear on this site were provided courtesy of Bat Conservation
International, Inc. (BCI) and were used with permission. The use of these
photos and the shared development of this brochure do not imply endorsement
of BCI's views, services, or products by the Public Health Service or
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Bats
and Rabies: A Public Health Guide. Brochures designed for desktop
printing (four PDF formats below)
Bats
and Rabies Brochure (full color PDF file formatted as five
8.5" x 11" pages)
Bats
and Rabies Brochure (full color PDF file reformatted as a
two page 8.5" x 11" brochure)
Bats
and Rabies Brochure
(black & white PDF file reformatted as a two page 8.5" x
11" brochure)
Bats
and Rabies Brochure (full color PDF file reformatted to print
as the orginal version of the brochure - prints as a 9.25" x 20"
brochure)
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