Bat caves safe?

A

Angel23

Member
Hi
I’ve recently taken my daughters 5 and 3 to a bat cave in the UK with Sebas bats. I noticed a scratch on my daughter later that day. I’m now paranoid it was a bat scratch and she’ll contract rabies. Can you please set my mind at rest and tell me these bats in captivity will not carry the rabies virus? Thanks all.
 
Hi, where was the zoo? It is very highly unlikely that the bats would have rabies as most zoos have to put their animals through quarantine like hamerton zoo.
 
Thanks
I thought I was probably being paranoid but I couldn’t get it out of my mind and have been worrying since.
 
Ah I’ve visited there! The bats should be safe as it is unlikely that a zoo like wild discovery would source their animals from places that wouldn’t have put them through quarantine as most of their animals are sourced from private zoos, uk zoos or they are unwanted pets. :)
 
Angel23 said:
It’s cute there isn’t it? I wouldn’t have been as worried if she hadn’t come away with a scratch.
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Yes it’s a lovely little zoo I visited to see the genets:) btw I believe that their bats are actually straw bellied and Egyptian :)
 
Your daughter will be fine. Keep in mind that captive bats are less likely to carry rabies than wild bats, and only ~1% of wild bats carry the virus.
 
You should visit a doctor to be sure.

But I think Britain is free of rabies, and fruit bats in a zoo are isolated from any wild bats.
 
It is most unlikely that any of those bats would carry rabies. The chance that the scratch is of a bat bite is equally small.

But none of us here are doctors and most people here have zero experience whatsoever with bats, so are not in a position to give any advice. Some googling is not good enough.

I have worked with an handled wild bats for a few years, but I am unsure anymore whether rabies could only be contracted from fluid to fluid contact or that the virus can also be spread by faeces.

Of you are really worried it is best to contact the zoo (they will test their animals) directly and a doctor. Personally I would then also get advice on Tetanus, which is a somewhat higher risk.
 
Do you have any evidence it was a bat that caused the scratch? It sounds like it could have come at any point during the day.
 
BigNate said:
Do you have any evidence it was a bat that caused the scratch? It sounds like it could have come at any point during the day.
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It could have. That is why I’m being a paranoid mother!! I only noticed it when we left so could have been from anything. I only worried as the bat cave was tiny and there were so many bats flying very close to us.
 
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