An injured bat in the Isle of Wight had a rabies-like virus, the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed.
The injured serotine bat, discovered in a back garden in the Isle of Wight, was placed in a shoebox by the resident, who wore gloves to handle the animal. Volunteers from the Isle of Wight Bat Hospital then came to collect it.
Following concerning symptoms, the bat was euthanised and it was confirmed that the individual was infected with European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1).
EBLV-1 is a close relative of the better-known rabies virus. Both viruses are transmitted to humans through bites, scratches, and the saliva of infected animals. They both cause rabies in humans. However, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) found no evidence that the Isle of Wight bat transmitted the virus to humans or other animals.
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Alex Morss, from the Bat Conservation Trust, told the BBC that rabies-related viruses have been recorded in less than 0.3% of all bats tested in the last three decades, and in only two of the eighteen UK bat species.
“There have only been two recorded cases of rabies viruses from an infected wild British animal in a human in Britain since records began - one case was in 1902, the other case was in 2002,” Alex Morss told BBC News.
While it is always concerning to find evidence of such a serious virus, bats should not be feared. The risk they pose to the general public is very small, and post-exposure treatment, if sought quickly, is highly effective.
Protected by law, bats should only be handled by licensed individuals. If you suspect you might have been bitten, scratched or licked by a bat, you should call the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228 and seek medical assistance straight away.
Main image: serotine bat © Getty
