rabies in bats?

planetX

Does anyone know is there rabies present in Irish bats like there is in Britain? It just occured to me as I was cleaning up bat blood from my floor - I'm sorry, my cat did it. But I wonder if I need to be a bit more careful. Is it possible for a cat to get rabies from eating an infected bat?
Poor bat, I'm getting a bell for the cat. I can't understand how he's catching them, do they come down to the ground?

Alun

Interesting .. I didn't know there was such a thing, but according to this page ...

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/rabies/q&a.htm

it's a bat specific disease not the same virus as 'classical' rabies, and rarely crosses the species barrier.

Amalgam

People do die from it, very rarely, I think it has happened about twice in the UK, within the last decade.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/2509375.stm

In the case of my link, it's a pity it killed someone so devoted to the animals.

Dusty87

Is ireland not free of all rabies? Thats what i was told?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Ireland is free of rabies but rather than repeat a previous thread:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055580055&highlight=rabies+bats

Alun

Dusty87 wrote: »

Is ireland not free of all rabies? Thats what i was told?

There's rabies and there's rabies. The bat variety is different to the variety that gets transmitted between wildlife such as foxes and domestic pets. See the link I gave above.

enilec

PlanetX, my house has been over run with bats over the summer. They're roosting under the slates in the roof and have somehow managed to find they're way into my bedroom and living room. They do fly around inside but land regularly and "walk" around on the floor. They often stay on the floor while my cat plays with them; they seem to make a screeching sound to deter the hunter rather than just flying away! Luckily, they freak my cat out so she will not kill them but I imagine the bat your cat killed was doing this. As for rabies, I read somewhere that the percentage of bats that carry rabies is miniscule, something like 1%, but as with all wild animals I would exercise caution when handling them or their bodily fluids as they may be carriers of other diseases. I always wear thick gloves if I need to deal with a bat (they are a protected species though & it is advised that you do not touch them). Here's some informed information on the lovely little fellas http://www.batconservationireland.org/php/showdev.php

planetX

Thanks, I didn't realise there were variants of rabies, I just remembered reading about the guy who died in Scotland. Was worried cos I have had to handle live ones (when cat brings them in as gifts...), never time for gloves, just want to get the critter outside quick!