Anglers and ramblers who use riverbanks and canals are being warned not to touch sick or injured bats after the discovery of a bat with rabies in Lancashire.
The bat, which flew into a tree and was stunned, was then picked up by a member of the public and later handled by three professional bat workers, said the Health Protection Agency. None was bitten or scratched, but all have been vaccinated as a precaution.
Four bats of the relatively rare Daubenton species have been found to be infected with rabies among the 4,000 routinely tested over the last 19 years - the other three were in Sussex in 1996, Lancashire in 2002 and Surrey in 2004. All of of them had the same form of rabies virus, known as European Bat Lyssavirus type-2 (EBLV2).
A fifth bat of a different type - the even rarer Serotine variety - was recently found to have been infected with a slightly different strain of the disease, EBLV1, in the south of England, but experts from the HPA say they believe this was a one-off. They think it is possible that the bat was blown here across the Channel.
Yesterday the HPA said there was no risk to humans from the most common species of bat, the pipistrelle, which roosts in the eves of houses. None of these have been found infected.
"Our advice is particularly aimed at anglers and walkers, as Daubenton's bats tend to live near rivers or canals, often roosting in the stonework of bridges," said Martyn Regan, HPA north west's lead regional epidemiologist. "Anglers should not handle bats that become snagged on their fishing lines ..."
Bats seen flying around in the daytime may be sick, a spokesman for the HPA said. In the unlikely event that somebody is bitten or scratched, they should wash the injured area thoroughly with soap and water and see a doctor immediately. Post-exposure vaccination is almost 100% effective, the HPA said.
"Anyone who has been bitten or had close exposure to a bat should be assessed for a post-exposure rabies vaccination as soon as possible," it advised.
A bat handler who died from EBVL2 infection in November 2002 is believed to have had contact with numerous bats.
