What are the chances of getting rabies from a bat scratch?

What are the chances of getting rabies from a bat scratch?

An elderly woman died and more than two dozen people were treated for possible rabies exposure after her family failed to realize that a nighttime encounter with a bat put her at risk of rabies. Last August, the woman awoke in her Wyoming home and felt a bat on her neck. She swatted it away and washed her hands.

Can you get rabies from being near a bat?

You cannot catch rabies just by being near a bat. Although rare, exposures can also occur from contact between infected saliva or nervous tissues and open wounds or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth. The principal source of rabies exposure from bats is through careless handling.

How soon after bat exposure do you need rabies shot?

If a dog, cat, bat, or other mammal you might suspect has rabies has bitten you, get to the doctor. The first dose of the vaccine should be administered within the first 24 hours after exposure.

Do bats with rabies show symptoms?

Although you cannot look at a bat and say it has rabies for sure, a bat that is erratically flying, active during the day, or showing signs of paralysis or weakness, may potentially be showing signs of rabies. Any ill wildlife should be avoided and reported to your local Animal Care and Control Officer.

What is considered bat exposure?

Bat exposure – Any direct contact between a human and a bat is considered an exposure, unless the person is certain a bite, scratch or mucous membrane exposure did not occur.

What percentage of bats have rabies?

Most bats don t have rabies. For example, even among bats submitted for rabies testing because they could be captured, were obviously weak or sick, or had been captured by a cat, only about 6\% had rabies.

What is the pre-exposure rabies vaccine?

The pre-exposure vaccination series consists of three injections (shots) of a killed rabies virus vaccine. The first two doses are given one week apart (day 0 and 7). The third and last dose is given 2-3 weeks following the second dose (day 21 or 28).

How does a bat act with rabies?

Do Bats with Rabies Act Abnormally? Rabid bats do not become overly aggressive or attack humans. A bat with rabies will get sick, and may show abnormal behaviors, such as daytime flight, paralysis, or an inability to fly.

Can bats bump into you?

2. Bats won’t get caught in your hair. Bats’ echolocation is so efficient that they can identify the size and shape of an insect and which way it is going. They’re never going to bump into you or get caught in your hair.