Do Bats carry disease?
Only 4 bats have been found to be carrying the Rabies European Bat Lyssavirus (EBL2) in the last 18 years in the UK. We know this because a screening programme has been in place for the last 18 years and has tested over 4000 bats. One of these two bats was thought to have possibly come from the continent. All bats were of the Daubenton’s species. Humans very rarely encounter this species, as they tend to live in places such as bridges and culverts, preferring these to housing. They also feed when it is very dark, usually over a still water body such as a pond or reservoir. As they do not come into contact with people very often, it is highly unlikely that a member of the public will contract the disease from a bat. If you find a grounded bat, or indeed any injured animal, it should only be handled whilst wearing gloves, or ideally with bats it should be scooped up in a soft cloth and secured in a box with air holes. The rabies lyssavirus can only be contracted by a bite, scratch, or bl
