It is possible, although rare, for a bat infected with rabies to pass the disease on to other mammals, including humans.

Signs that a bat may have rabies

Infected bats may not show any signs of rabies. Infection can only be confirmed in a laboratory.

Clinical signs in bats may include:

• behaviour changes – infected animals are prone to more aggression
• disorientation and difficulty flying (infected bats may be injured as a result)
• eyes taking on a staring expression

How rabies is spread

Rabies is present in the saliva of infected bats and is usually spread by the bite of an infected bat.

The disease can also be spread if the saliva of an infected animal gets into open wounds or mucous membranes such as the nostrils, mouth and lips, eyelids and ears.

Risk to humans from infected bats

Humans can catch rabies from a bat, although this is very unusual as the disease is very rare among bats in Great Britain.

In humans, symptoms of the disease include:

• anxiety, headaches and fever in early stages
• spasms of the swallowing muscles, making it difficult or impossible to drink
• breathing difficulties

There are vaccinations against rabies, and the disease can normally be prevented if you are treated soon after exposure. But once signs of rabies appear, there is no treatment. Past human cases have been fatal.

Find out more about rabies in humans and what to do if you are bitten by a bat.

How to avoid catching rabies from a bat

You should be vaccinated against rabies if you regularly handle bats.

If you have not been vaccinated against the disease:

• assume that all bats are possible carriers of rabies
• avoid touching bats, living or dead, whenever possible
• if you must touch a bat, follow the Bat Conservation Trust guidance and wear thick gloves to avoid being bitten or scratched

If you are bitten or scratched by a bat

If you suspect rabies in a bat

If you suspect rabies in a bat or you see abnormal behaviour in a bat, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

APHA vets will investigate and may submit the bat for testing to see whether the signs were caused by rabies.

If you find a dead bat

If you find a dead bat:

• do not directly handle the bat if possible
• if you have to touch the bat, follow the Bat Conservation Trust guidance and use thick gloves
• follow the Bat Conservation Trust guidance on what to do with the dead bat

If your pet finds a bat

It is possible, although very rare, for infected bats to pass rabies to other animals including pets.

If your pet catches a bat, keep your pet under observation.

If your pet falls sick or starts behaving unusually, you must contact your vet immediately. Your vet will tell APHA if they suspect your pet has rabies.

Monitoring rabies in bats in Great Britain

APHA tests dead bats submitted by the public to monitor how widespread the disease is in Great Britain.

Only very few have tested positive in more than 15,000 tests since 1986, so the risk of catching rabies from a bat is very low.

Locations of infected bats in the UK

Once a positive case is confirmed, we will not publicise further incidents at the same site during that year’s ‘bat season’ – May to September.

Location	Year
South Petherton, Somerset	2025
Weymouth, Dorset	2024
Swyre, Dorset	2024
Honiton, Devon	2024
Chew Valley Lake, Somerset	2024
Whimple, Devon	2024
Chard, Somerset	2024
Castle Cary, Somerset	2024
Glasson Dock, Lancashire	2024
Piddletrenthide, Dorset	2024
Wareham, Dorset	2024
Blandford Forum, Dorset	2023
Sherbourne, Dorset	2023
Tisbury, Wiltshire	2023
St Leonards and St. Ives, Dorset	2023
Curry Mallet, Somerset	2023
Winterbourne Stickland, Somerset	2023
Castle Cary, Somerset	2023
Dorchester, Dorset	2023
Blandford Forum, Dorset	2023
Plush, Dorset	2023
Lytchett Minster, Dorset	2023
Athelhampton, Dorset	2023
Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset	2023
Crewkerne, Somerset	2023
Yeovil, Somerset	2023
Highbridge, Somerset	2022
Poole, Dorset	2022
Poole, Dorset	2022
Weymouth, Dorset	2022
Dorchester, Dorset	2022
Maidstone, Kent	2022
Poole, Dorset	2022
Poole, Dorset	2022
Keinton Mandeville, Somerset	2021
Whitstable, Kent	2021
Chard, Somerset	2021
Hanbury, Worcestershire	2021
Taunton, Somerset	2020
Dorchester, Dorset	2020
Wimbourne, Dorset	2020
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire	2019
Poole, Dorset	2019
Poole, Dorset	2019
Wimbourne, Dorset	2019
Corfe Castle, Dorset	2018
East Lothian, Scotland	2018
Poole, Dorset	2018
Rothbury, Northumberland	2018
Robertsbridge, East Sussex (5 cases)	2018
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire	2018
Chesterfield, Derbyshire	2017
Haydon Bridge, Northumberland	2016
Skipton, N Yorkshire	2016
Newtown, Powys, Wales	2015
Craven Arms, Shropshire	2014