Rabies in bats: how to spot it and report it
Signs that may suggest rabies in bats, what to do if you spot them and measures to prevent exposing yourself to the disease.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
It is possible, although rare, for a bat infected with rabies to pass the disease on to other mammals, including humans.
Rabies in bats is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it, you must report it immediately by:
- calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301 in England
- calling 03003 038 268 in Wales
- contacting your local Field Services Office in Scotland
Failure to do so is an offence.
Signs that a bat may have rabies
Infected bats may not show any signs of rabies. Infection can only be confirmed in a laboratory.
Clinical signs in bats may include:
- behaviour changes – infected animals are prone to more aggression
- disorientation and difficulty flying (infected bats may be injured as a result)
- eyes taking on a staring expression
How rabies is spread
Rabies is present in the saliva of infected bats and is usually spread by the bite of an infected bat.
The disease can also be spread if the saliva of an infected animal gets into open wounds or mucous membranes such as the nostrils, mouth and lips, eyelids and ears.
Risk to humans from infected bats
Humans can catch rabies from a bat, although this is very unusual as the disease is very rare among bats in Great Britain.
In humans, symptoms of the disease include:
- anxiety, headaches and fever in early stages
- spasms of the swallowing muscles, making it difficult or impossible to drink
- breathing difficulties
There are vaccinations against rabies, and the disease can normally be prevented if you are treated soon after exposure. But once signs of rabies appear, there is no treatment. Past human cases have been fatal.
Find out more about rabies in humans and what to do if you are bitten by a bat.
How to avoid catching rabies from a bat
You should be vaccinated against rabies if you regularly handle bats.
If you have not been vaccinated against the disease:
- assume that all bats are possible carriers of rabies
- avoid touching bats, living or dead, whenever possible
- if you must touch a bat, follow the Bat Conservation Trust guidance and wear thick gloves to avoid being bitten or scratched
If you are bitten or scratched by a bat
If you have been bitten or scratched by a bat, or exposed to bat saliva or nervous tissue in any other way, you must:
- wash the wound or contact area with soap and water
- disinfect the wound
- contact a doctor immediately, who will decide whether you need treatment
If you suspect rabies in a bat
If you suspect rabies in a bat or you see abnormal behaviour in a bat, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
APHA vets will investigate and may submit the bat for testing to see whether the signs were caused by rabies.
If you find a dead bat
If you find a dead bat:
- do not directly handle the bat if possible
- if you have to touch the bat, follow the Bat Conservation Trust guidance and use thick gloves
- follow the Bat Conservation Trust guidance on what to do with the dead bat
If your pet finds a bat
It is possible, although very rare, for infected bats to pass rabies to other animals including pets.
If your pet catches a bat, keep your pet under observation.
If your pet falls sick or starts behaving unusually, you must contact your vet immediately. Your vet will tell APHA if they suspect your pet has rabies.
Monitoring rabies in bats in Great Britain
APHA tests dead bats submitted by the public to monitor how widespread the disease is in Great Britain.
Only very few have tested positive in more than 15,000 tests since 1986, so the risk of catching rabies from a bat is very low.
Locations of infected bats in the UK
Once a positive case is confirmed at a site, we will not publicise further incidents there during the given year’s ‘bat season’ – May to September.
| Location | Year |
|---|---|
| Highbridge, Somerset | 2022 |
| Poole, Dorset | 2022 |
| Poole, Dorset | 2022 |
| Weymouth, Dorset | 2022 |
| Dorchester, Dorset | 2022 |
| Maidstone, Kent | 2022 |
| Poole, Dorset | 2022 |
| Poole, Dorset | 2022 |
| Keinton Mandeville, Somerset | 2021 |
| Whitstable, Kent | 2021 |
| Chard, Somerset | 2021 |
| Hanbury, Worcestershire | 2021 |
| Taunton, Somerset | 2020 |
| Dorchester, Dorset | 2020 |
| Wimbourne, Dorset | 2020 |
| Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | 2019 |
| Poole, Dorset | 2019 |
| Poole, Dorset | 2019 |
| Wimbourne, Dorset | 2019 |
| Corfe Castle, Dorset | 2018 |
| East Lothian, Scotland | 2018 |
| Poole, Dorset | 2018 |
| Rothbury, Northumberland | 2018 |
| Robertsbridge, East Sussex (5 cases) | 2018 |
| Peterborough, Cambridgeshire | 2018 |
| Chesterfield, Derbyshire | 2017 |
| Haydon Bridge, Northumberland | 2016 |
| Skipton, N Yorkshire | 2016 |
| Newtown, Powys, Wales | 2015 |
| Craven Arms, Shropshire | 2014 |
Last updated 19 January 2023 + show all updates
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Updated to reflect that there has been a report of rabies in a bat in Highbridge, Somerset.
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We've updated the list of locations of infected bats in the UK. New positive cases have been confirmed at 2 sites in Poole, Dorset.
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Updated the page to reflect that there have been two reports of rabies in bats in Dorset (Weymouth and Dorchester) from August 2022.
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Updated to add a report of bat rabies in a bat in Maidstone, Kent.
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We have updated this page to reflect that there has been a further report of rabies in a bat in Poole, Dorset.
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We have updated this page to reflect that there has been a report of rabies in a bat in Poole, Dorset.
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Updated to reflect that 2 further cases of rabies have been found in bats.
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We have updated this page to reflect that there has been a report of rabies in a bat in Chard, Somerset.
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We have updated this page to reflect that there has been a report of rabies in a bat in Hanbury, Worcestershire.
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Updated the information on the number of cases of rabies in bats.
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Updated the information on the number of cases of rabies in bats.
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Updated the information on the number of cases of rabies in bats.
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Updated the information on the number of cases of rabies in bats.
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Updated the information on the number of cases of rabies in bats.
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Updated as a bat tested positive for rabies in Poole, Dorset in August 2019.
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Updated to include the latest monitoring details for positive cases.
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Added link to guidance leaflet from Public Health England
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Contact details for reporting a notifiable disease updated.
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Added details of where and when rabies has been found in bats in Great Britain.
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Updated the information on the number of cases of rabies in bats.
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Updated the information on the number of case of rabies in a bat.
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Updated the contact details on who to contact if you find a dead bat.
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Updated the number of cases of rabies in bats.
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Updated information on when the most recent case of rabies in a bat in Great Britain was.
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Updated the information on the number of case of rabies in a bat.
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Minor change to reflect that the most recent case of rabies in a bat in Great Britain was in July 2015.
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Updated Bat Conservation Trust helpline number
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AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
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First published.