Latest news with #batvirus
The Independent
2 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Bat found with rare rabies-like virus in UK back garden
An injured bat that was rescued from a back garden tested positive for an extremely rare rabies -like virus. Using gloves, the resident of the house in Shorwell picked up the bat and kept it safe in a shoebox overnight. The animal was collected by volunteers from the Isle of Wight Bat Hospital the next day, the BBC reported. The bat was later found to have a virus that caused rabies, known as European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1), the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed. The bat was humanely euthanised as a result. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) investigated the incident and did not find any bites or scratches to humans or other animals. There are two types of viruses that cause rabies carried in bats in the UK - EBLV-1 and EBLV-2. Both of these viruses are extremely rare and only found in a small number of bats. Although EBLV causes a rabies-like virus, it is not the same as the rabies virus associated with dogs, which causes most cases worldwide. The presence of the virus does not change the UK's rabies-free health status, and other mammals are not considered to be at risk, according to Defra. Rabies can be passed on if an infected animal bites or scratches you or if the animal licks your eyes, nose or mouth, or if you have a wound that is licked, according to the NHS. Symptoms of rabies can take up to 12 weeks to appear, but once they do, rabies is almost always fatal. Symptoms include hallucinations, difficulty swallowing and breathing, paralysis and numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched. The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) explained that both strains of the bat virus have only been recorded in 59 out of 19,000 bats tested since 1986. Only two of 18 bat species tested positive: the serotine bat and the Daubenton's bat. European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1) has been detected in Serotine bats since 2018, with the first case being found in Dorset, according to APHA. Alex Morss from the charity warned that anyone who had been in contact, such as licked, bitten or scratched by a bat, should contact the National Bat Helpline - 0345 1300 228 - and seek immediate medical assistance. A bat worker from Scotland died from rabies caused by EBLV in 2002, which is why the charity takes a precautionary approach and advises that anyone who is bitten by a bat gets medical help as soon as possible. The NHS does offer vaccinations that, if provided soon after exposure, are 100 per cent effective in preventing the disease. "There is no risk to human health if you do not handle British bats, even if they are roosting in buildings you use,' Mr Morss told the BBC. "No action should be taken to disturb or harm any wild bats or their roosts.' All British bats are legally protected and should only be handled by someone with a licence. But if a bat needs rescuing, thick gloves and a face covering should be worn.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rare rabies-like virus found in island bat
An injured bat that was rescued from a back garden turned out to have an extremely rare, rabies-like virus, the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs has said. The animal was found earlier this month in Shorwell on the Isle of Wight. The resident picked it up wearing gloves and kept it in a shoebox overnight, while waiting for it to be collected by volunteers from Isle of Wight Bat Hospital. Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the bat was later found to have a virus that caused rabies, known as European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1) - but Defra said other mammals were not considered to be at risk. Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) said it investigated and found no scratches or bites to humans or animals. There are two types of viruses that cause rabies carried in bats in the UK - EBLV-1 and EBLV-2. Both are extremely rare in the UK and their presence does not change the UK's status as a rabies-free country, according to Defra. EBLVs cause the rabies disease but they are not the classical rabies virus associated with dogs and responsible for most rabies cases worldwide, according to the Bat Conservation Trust. Alex Morss, from the trust, said: "Rabies-related viruses have only ever been recorded in less than 0.3% of all bats tested since 1986 (59 bats of 19,000 tested), and in only two of the 18 bat species present in the UK, the serotine bat and the Daubenton's bat." He added: "There have only been two recorded cases of rabies viruses from an infected wild British animal in a human in Britain since records began - One case was in 1902, the other case was in 2002." European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1) has been detected in Serotine bats since 2018, with the first case being found in Dorset, according to APHA. As of May 2024, 34 cases of EBLV-1 had been reported in the UK, according to research from the University of Surrey and APHA. Mr Morss said anyone who suspected they had been licked, bitten or scratched by a bat should contact the National Bat Helpline - 0345 1300 228 - and seek immediate medical assistance. Vaccinations provided soon after exposure are 100% effective in preventing the disease, according to the NHS. "There is no risk to human health if you do not handle British bats, even if they are roosting in buildings you use, Mr Morss said. "No action should be taken to disturb or harm any wild bats or their roosts. "Bats are non-aggressive, shy mammals and will avoid contact with humans." All 18 British bat species and their roosts are legally protected. Mr Morss said bats should only ever be handled by a person with a licence and after appropriate training, unless a bat in distress is being rescued, in which case thick gloves and a face mask or covering should be worn. British woman dies from rabies after puppy scratch Rabies death sparks 'jump in vaccine inquiries' Culling bats does not halt rabies
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Bat with rabies-like virus found on Isle of Wight
An injured bat that was rescued from a back garden turned out to have an extremely rare, rabies-like virus, the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs has animal was found earlier this month in Shorwell on the Isle of resident picked it up wearing gloves and kept it in a shoebox overnight, while waiting for it to be collected by volunteers from Isle of Wight Bat for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the bat was later found to have a virus that caused rabies, known as European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1) - but Defra said other mammals were not considered to be at risk. Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) said it investigated and found no scratches or bites to humans or are two types of viruses that cause rabies carried in bats in the UK - EBLV-1 and EBLV-2. Both are extremely rare in the UK and their presence does not change the UK's status as a rabies-free country, according to Defra. EBLVs cause the rabies disease but they are not the classical rabies virus associated with dogs and responsible for most rabies cases worldwide, according to the Bat Conservation Trust. Alex Morss, from the trust, said: "Rabies-related viruses have only ever been recorded in less than 0.3% of all bats tested since 1986 (59 bats of 19,000 tested), and in only two of the 18 bat species present in the UK, the serotine bat and the Daubenton's bat."He added: "There have only been two recorded cases of rabies viruses from an infected wild British animal in a human in Britain since records began - One case was in 1902, the other case was in 2002."European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1) has been detected in Serotine bats since 2018, with the first case being found in Dorset, according to APHA. As of May 2024, 34 cases of EBLV-1 had been reported in the UK, according to research from the University of Surrey and APHA. Legally protected Mr Morss said anyone who suspected they had been licked, bitten or scratched by a bat should contact the National Bat Helpline - 0345 1300 228 - and seek immediate medical assistance. Vaccinations provided soon after exposure are 100% effective in preventing the disease, according to the NHS. "There is no risk to human health if you do not handle British bats, even if they are roosting in buildings you use, Mr Morss said. "No action should be taken to disturb or harm any wild bats or their roosts."Bats are non-aggressive, shy mammals and will avoid contact with humans."All 18 British bat species and their roosts are legally protected. Mr Morss said bats should only ever be handled by a person with a licence and after appropriate training, unless a bat in distress is being rescued, in which case thick gloves and a face mask or covering should be worn.
