Public Health England is encouraging anyone who has been exposed to bats to seek medical advice.
Exposure is defined as;
- Bite
- Scratch
- Contact with saliva
This follows the finding of a rabid bat in Dorset.
The risk is low, but anyone exposed should have a risk assessment completed by a health professional which may lead to treatment.
Anyone in regular contact with bats should also consider a course of rabies vaccines.
Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you should still take precautions to avoid coming into contact with rabies.
If vaccinated or not once bitten, scratched or in contact with saliva you should:
- immediately clean the wound with running water and soap for several minutes
- disinfect the wound with an alcohol- or iodine-based disinfectant and apply a simple dressing, if possible
- get medical advice straight away as additional treatment may be required post exposure.
Please note there are some vaccine stock shortages in the UK at this time.