When uncertain, the bat should be tested. Modern rabies treatment is highly effective and relatively painless. Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis should begin as soon after exposure as possible. A series of six injections is administered over a period of 28 days. Five of the 45 bat species living in the continental United States have transmitted rabies to humans.
Any mammal can potentially transmit rabies.
The bats typically seen around buildings have accounted for just eight human rabies cases since 1951, but they are the ones people now fear and make war on as a result of frightening public health claims. As such highly beneficial bats are destroyed, there is a real possibility that the species most implicated in transmission will, through reduced competition, be encouraged to live in closer proximity to humans. Photo of Cover Bat Conservation International, Inc., 1999. Absolutely no rights of distribution by sale or other transfer of ownership or by rental, lease or lending, preparation of derivitive works, or reproduction, in whole or in part, is granted. BCI reserves the rights to actively protect against infringement.