NFT: Bat in the house last night - do I need a rabies shot?

Both of you should also contact your primary care physician as well. The recommendation is to be seen within 24 hours.

It's a tossup on the vaccine...there are arguments back and forth (see this article, Do You Need Rabies Shots If A Bat Gets In Your House? Experts Disagree.. For example, in Canada you would not be encouraged to take the vaccine (Rabies shots no longer necessary for bat-in-the-bedroom encounters). You're best bet is to have a discussion with your primary care person on the risks vs benefits (the vaccine is no walk in the park, either).

Oddly enough, if you were in Hawaii, you wouldn't have to worry...I don't think the bats there have rabies, from what I saw on Google.

I wouldn't think you need to be concerned unless they bite, but I am not an expert

In comment 14003381 JohnF said:

Quote:

Both of you should also contact your primary care physician as well. The recommendation is to be seen within 24 hours. It's a tossup on the vaccine...there are arguments back and forth (see this article, Do You Need Rabies Shots If A Bat Gets In Your House? Experts Disagree.. For example, in Canada you would not be encouraged to take the vaccine (Rabies shots no longer necessary for bat-in-the-bedroom encounters). You're best bet is to have a discussion with your primary care person on the risks vs benefits (the vaccine is no walk in the park, either). Oddly enough, if you were in Hawaii, you wouldn't have to worry...I don't think the bats there have rabies, from what I saw on Google.

Jeezus. Holy overreaction. Bats get into people’s homes all the time. Very, very, very few of them drop dead from it.

But just to be safe, you should go to the ER immediately and have them amputate something. It doesn’t really matter what, could be a finger or a toe. It’s just important to give the rabies a way to escape your body. I hope this advice helps!

But you should stay away from garlic or direct sunlight, the next few days just to be safe.

In comment 14003396 Pete in 'Vliet said:

Quote:

But you should stay away from garlic or direct sunlight, the next few days just to be safe.

You sir are spot on.

How is that even possible?

In comment 14003403 Big Rick in FL said:

Quote:

How is that even possible?

I have the same question. Apparently it's possible because they have small teeth and if you are a heavy sleeper.

You can feel an ant bite. If you can't feel it you should be able to see it.


If you don't see or feel anything I wouldn't worry about it.

I heard that bats can bite you while sleeping and you'd not know it due to their small, sharp teeth.

I think rabies shots are a whole series of shots taken over time. Not a shot & done deal.

But call these dudes.

If you did you need medical attention. If not your fine. Common sense.

vampire bat?

If you find yourself sleeping while hanging upside down, there could be an issue.....

They aren't like the ones on tv. Bat's are pretty cool. They just want to be left alone like everyone else lol

Unless you actually got bit then it's not a concern and that's probably a really unlikely scenario.

If worried though, just call your local animal control or nature center and then maybe your PCP?

even IF you did get bit, the chances of the animal having rabies is pretty damn low. Rabid animals are abnormally aggressive. It sounds like this poor guy was trying desperately to hide from you.

dude, you would absolutely know if you were bitten by a bat. It would be about 10 times worse than any bite you would have received from a mosquito or something else.

This is basic shit.

or team Jacob.

NBD. Just open the window and let them fly out.


The only thing you need to worry about is getting a wooden stake and some garlic in case your wife turns into a vampire

In comment 14003556 Vanzetti said:

Quote:

NBD. Just open the window and let them fly out. The only thing you need to worry about is getting a wooden stake and some garlic in case your wife turns into a vampire

This. ^^^
If your wife comes home with a coffin, run.

In comment 14003537 EricJ said:

Quote:

dude, you would absolutely know if you were bitten by a bat. It would be about 10 times worse than any bite you would have received from a mosquito or something else. This is basic shit.

thats actually not true. People have been bitten without knowing it. Of course that likely depends on the type of bat. Some species are about the size of your thumb. The teeth size are very small too, even on larger species. So, it’s possible to not know you’ve been bitten. Unlikely though because everyone would have to be a heavy sleeper not to notice a bat around them and also biting them.

In NY, I think the prevalence of rabies in a bat is about 1%. So, the odds are, you’re okay (low percentage of rabies in bats plus no observed physical contact). It’s actually too bad you didn’t trap and save it though because you could have had it tested to be sure.

You may not know you were bitten. CDC recommendation is to consider shots if someone was asleep.

Quote:

Postexposure prophylaxis can be considered for persons who were 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

Best bet is to capture the bat and have it tested.
CDC recommendation - ( New Window )

In comment 14003616 Scyber said:

Quote:

You may not know you were bitten. CDC recommendation is to consider shots if someone was asleep. Quote: Postexposure prophylaxis can be considered for persons who were 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 Best bet is to capture the bat and have it tested. CDC recommendation - ( New Window )

I knew I should have just killed and kept that bastard. Whatever - calling the county DoH tomorrow to see what they say. They have a rabies hotline.

Your weapons are useless against them.

Bruce

How did it get in the radiator? If it had to get into the house first, how did it get in?

That will answer a lot of questions whether you got bit or not.

Either that or see what happens when you grab a cross.

hope everything works out for you and your wife.

In comment 14003487 Giant John said:

Quote:

If you did you need medical attention. If not your fine. Common sense.

Well, he might not know whether he was bit by a fucking BAT... because you know, he’s a heavy sleeper...

in my house would let know it was in in the house.

in this situation.

doesn't that usually mean that they don't have rabies? When you see a nocturnal animal out in the day time that usually a sign of trouble.

I don't think bats make it a habit of biting people (sleeping or not). I would bet if you got bit while sleeping you would know it anyway.

didn't leave any droppings in your house because that can really make you crazy.

Don't know if she's still in the business, seems she's taken up selling foods! :)

The county health dept (rabies specialist) recommends the shots. There will be 4 shots, 1 each - today, Thursday, next Monday and the Monday after that.

This despite the fact that both the "Bat Man" and my sister (a GP MD) don't think it's necessary.

I guess you can't f around with rabies, so it is what it is.

In comment 14003381 JohnF said:

Quote:

Both of you should also contact your primary care physician as well. The recommendation is to be seen within 24 hours. It's a tossup on the vaccine...there are arguments back and forth (see this article, Do You Need Rabies Shots If A Bat Gets In Your House? Experts Disagree.. For example, in Canada you would not be encouraged to take the vaccine (Rabies shots no longer necessary for bat-in-the-bedroom encounters). You're best bet is to have a discussion with your primary care person on the risks vs benefits (the vaccine is no walk in the park, either). Oddly enough, if you were in Hawaii, you wouldn't have to worry...I don't think the bats there have rabies, from what I saw on Google.

Get to an urgent care now! Now goddammit NOW!

There’s likely a low probablilty you were bitten, *but* (and despite some posts scoffing that you wouldn’t know you’ve been bitten, the truth is you could have been bitten and not know it,*plus* (and this is the most important part) rabies has a fatality rate of just about 100%.

Um,....yeah, get the shots.

In comment 14003546 Jim in Fairfax said:

Quote:

LOL. Very good.