Man Dies From Rabies Caught From Bat Bite

A 43-year-old man in Indiana died recently of rabies caught by a bat bite. It`s the state`s first death from rabies since 2006.

It seems that although the man hadn`t any obvious wounds or marks, the tests clearly showed it was a bat that infected him.

Let`s not run away with the idea though that all or even most bats in the wild are rabid. In fact it`s fewer than one percent, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People can be exposed to bats in places like attics, on porches or in parks. Along with bats, animals such as raccoons, foxes and skunks and even dogs can transmit rabies.

The key is to get shots to prevent the disease once a person thinks he may have been bitten by a rabid animal, and in the case of a bat they should always seek medical advice just in case.

Remember in some places bats are a protected species. In the UK, for instance, UK law prevents bats from the following-

1. Deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat
2. Intentionally or recklessly disturb a bat in its roost or deliberately disturb a group of bats
3. Damage or destroy a bat roosting place (even if bats are not occupying the roost at the time)
4. Possess or advertise/sell/exchange a bat (dead or alive) or any part of a bat
5. Intentionally or recklessly obstruct access to a bat roost

You should never try to pick a bat up, it could be carrying disease.

It`s good to remember that bats do a lot of good for the eco-system, eating insects which are bad for crops for example.