Should I get the rabies vaccine if there was a bat in my house?

Should I get the rabies vaccine if there was a bat in my house?

You’ll have to go to an emergency room for the first rabies vaccine and the immune globulin, Thomas says. Even if you submitted the bat to the health department for testing, you shouldn’t wait for those results before seeking treatment. If they do come back negative, though, you can stop getting the rabies vaccines.

How likely is it to get rabies from a bat?

Bats can have rabies, but it is extremely rare for that to impact humans. The chance of getting rabies from a bat is very small — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are one or two cases a year in the U.S. But bats are the most common source of human rabies in the United States.

Do you need a rabies shot if you touch a bat?

Rabies can spread to people from bats after minor, seemingly unimportant, or unrecognized bites or scratches. Rabies postexposure prophylaxis (or PEP, which includes vaccination) is recommended for any person with a bite or scratch from a bat, unless the bat is available for testing and tests negative for rabies.

How long do bats live with rabies?

“Hibernation for the virus is almost like putting it in freeze-frame or putting it into Carbonite,” said George, who is now with the US Department of Defense. As a result, even though the rabies virus normally kills bats in about six days in the lab, infected bats could stay alive through the long, cold winter.

How long can bats live with rabies?

Do all bat species carry rabies?

All bats do not carry rabies. Less than 1/2 of 1% of all bats may contract the disease. A variety of wild animals (rabies vector species) can catch rabies, including foxes, skunks, raccoons, coyotes and bats. Cats and dogs and even livestock can also contract rabies.

How will I know if I have rabies?

The first symptoms of rabies can appear from a few days to more than a year after the bite happens. At first, there’s a tingling, prickling, or itching feeling around the bite area. A person also might have flu-like symptoms such as a fever, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, nausea, and tiredness.