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Bat Rabies Study Starts in UK

April 02, 2003

The UK is free of classical rabies, but two Daubenton's bats have been found with European Bat Lyssavirus in the last seven years. This rabies-like disease has also killed a Scottish conservationist in November last year. Dr Sharon Brookes of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Weybridge is presenting data on lyssaviruses at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Meeting in Edinburgh today 08 April 2003.

"Since 1986 we have checked all the dead and dying bats submitted by the public and only found these two bat cases". It is currently advised by the DoH and Defra that those at risk of exposure, such as bat handlers, receive pre-exposure vaccination. The risk to the general public is low.

A study of bat blood and saliva starts this month, April 2003, in an attempt to find out more about the prevalence of lyssaviruses in British bats. The VLA will be carrying out the studies with Central Science Laboratory in York and Scottish National Heritage with assistance from volunteers from the Bat Conservation Trust. "The study will also feed into contingency plans in case rabies or a similar disease ever becomes a problem in the UK."

Classical rabies can be prevented by vaccination or by quickly supplying treatment as soon as someone is bitten. However if treatment is delayed long enough for the clinical symptoms of the disease to appear, rabies is always fatal.

Bats are protected animals in the UK and Europe under the Habitats Directive. Anyone handling or caring for bats, no matter how experienced, should get themselves vaccinated. If bitten, wash the wound immediately with soapy water and seek medical attention. If possible, and safe, keep the animal responsible for the bite for diagnostic testing. If rabies is suspected in the bat then it should be reported to the local Defra divisional veterinary manager.

"Our study should give us some hard evidence about the extent of the problem, and we hope to learn a lot more about the agents that cause rabies and similar infections," says Dr Brookes. "This knowledge will help us to protect people and animals from fatal illness, and help us to protect bats and other wildlife."

Society for General Microbiology

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