Yes. You can get Rabies Virus from Bats.
Recent data suggest that transmission of Rabies virus can occur from minor, seemingly unimportant, or unrecognized bites from bats. Human and domestic animal contact with bats should be minimized, and bats should never be handled by untrained and un-vaccinated persons or
be kept as pets. Never touch a bat with bare hands!
In all instances of potential human exposures involving bats, the bat in question should be safely collected, if possible, and submitted for rabies diagnosis. Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (shots) is recommended for all persons with bite, scratch, or mucous membrane exposure to a bat, unless the bat is available for testing and is negative for evidence of rabies.
Medical treatment must be considered when direct contact between a human and a bat has occurred.
Shots sho
uld be considered for any person who was in the same room as a bat and who might be unaware that a bite or direct contact had occurred (e.g., a sleeping person awakens to find a bat in the room or an adult witnesses a bat in the room with a previously unattended child, mentally disabled person, or intoxicated person) and rabies cannot be ruled out by testing the bat.
For more information about bats spreading Rabies, visit the Rabies: Bats site. READ MORE…