# chance of being bitten by a bat without noticing it (rabies question) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 30, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939 "2013-07-30T19:57:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/41 "2013-08-02T16:47:45Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > Sure hope a person would use gloves and goggles for that. Maybe a face mask. Maybe not. :shrug: During my training I was specifically told that, in any rabies suspect, never to use electronic saws/devices to take the brain out (that would send nerve splatter floating around). Use manual power (handsaw, axes, machetes), and preferably away from others (and in the downdraft room). And with gloves, at the very least. Granted, I’ve worked with a few rabid animals and have yet to get rabies (knock on wood). So it is entirely possible to do so, but you have to wear protection. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/42 "2013-08-03T03:20:29Z")
When I was bitten by a rabid cat the contact was minimal- it felt like the cat just swiped a raspy tongue over the spot on the back of my calf. Caught the (weird acting stray) cat, got it tested and the Health Department came back with “Go to the hospital and get your shots.” Ah…I think it was 7 shots that day, then follow up shots totalling 11. I was thrilled it is no longer 20-30 shots in the stomach (I’ve heard varying numbers, from people who had them at varying times). I’m glad you got the shots, **Rusalka**! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/43 "2013-08-03T10:52:53Z")
There seems to be a disconnect between people like the CDC saying “get your shots!” if there is any possibility of expose, and what some people experience upon going to the doctor with a suspected animal bite, which seems to be “don’t worry about it”. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/44 "2013-08-03T12:22:35Z")
The CDC itself can be more conservative than others. I know, for example, that I saw an ad mentioning how annual vaccinations for pets was useful for rabies, ignoring the fact that now, thanks to vaccine improvements and data, the recommendations are to use 3-years vaccines when possible (there are a few 1-year duration vaccines). So the recommendation is outdated (and they didn’t seem to take into account veterinarians). OTOH, the local guidelines for who gets or doesn’t get the vaccine are not given by CDC, but by the state’s public health officials (including doctors and epidemiologists). They are the final voice in regards to whether a patient gets or not the shots, particularly it was a couple of years ago when there was the big shortage (heh). ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/45 "2013-08-05T21:10:09Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > There seems to be a disconnect between people like the CDC saying “get your shots!” if there is any possibility of expose, and what some people experience upon going to the doctor with a suspected animal bite, which seems to be “don’t worry about it”. Yeah, I wonder if anyone has ever died of rabies after seeing a doctor who said “Nah…!” Most of the reaction seemed to be skepticism, except for the epidemiologist who actually deals with bats and rabies… I’ve had no adverse reactions to the vaccine so far. I didn’t even feel the last shot I had in my shoulder. I’m relieved I got treatment. ---
**Author:** ![LadyA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@LadyA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadyA)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/46 "2013-08-12T03:11:14Z")
I have had a bat enter my home 3 times now, over the last 25 years or so. The first time it came in through a slit in the screen door that was no longer than about an an inch, inch and a quarter. For some reason it pushed itself in - I was sitting right nearby when I saw it fly from behind the curtain that covered that door and later found that slit in the screen. Couldn’t believe it. So they can fit in through very small places. The other two times, one being this very night, we are not sure how it entered - probably through the door to the garage being left open too long. But tonight the bat, once inside, also somehow got into another room when the door to that room was closed, so we can only assume it went under the door, where there is about an inch of space. ---
**Author:** ![bats821](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c77e96/32.png) [@bats821](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bats821)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/47 "2014-09-10T14:16:53Z")
I went for rabies shots this past week after waking up with an unexplained wound on the knuckle. It was hard to decide since I didn’t see a bat in the house but I’m pretty sure they’re roosting here, I’ve disregarded the droppings on the front steps for a few years now, seems late summer I wipe them up and figured it was the chipmunks under the steps. Well, the scrape on my knuckle scabbed over into 2 distinct punctures 3cm apart (wish I could attach photo). I started googling, tried to explain how I would wake up and not remember scraping my knuckle, why I didn’t see a bat in my house although they’re all over the entrance and tall trees out front every night. Hmmm? post pix on fb and most people think I’m crazy at this point, “a bat couldn’t bite you w/o you knowing it” and so on. Well, I did the right, followed my gut and started the shots on the 4th day. I have bat inspectors coming next week, they’re very busy and subsequently called the town animal control and here’s what they said: it is absolutely possible that’s a bat bite, you should absolutely have the rabies shot, you can’t be 100% it’s of what it is and rabies is always fatal. You don’t get to second guess this a month down the road! I’ve described the dropping to 3 pest control guys on the phone and they are all pretty sure we have bats, however they can’t get involved with decision on rabies shots. I did the right thing! in Mass, oh just read last week they tested a bat for rabies, came back postitive, just a mile from my home Aug 2014 ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/48 "2014-09-14T05:03:00Z")
Better safe than sorry! Was it hard to convince your doc? ---
**Author:** ![breadwords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@breadwords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breadwords)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/49 "2015-01-11T18:47:55Z")
> [@Rusalka](#): > > I convinced my primary doctor to get me treatment. I called an epidemiologist at the public health hotline for Wisconsin and he said my concerns were valid, and told me he himself was vaccinated for a similar incident. I gave my primary doctor his number, and I think she called him because shortly thereafter she made arrangements with the pharmacist at the ER to make sure they had enough of the stuff I need. There is indeed a lack of this medication, although I read that up to 39,000 people a year get the shots. The ER physician also thought the spacing of the marks were suspicious. (how likely is it that the marks from a branch would be two small round punctures exactly 1 cm apart?) Well I’m relieved even though the treatment started 3 days too late. What did the puncture marks looks like, exactly? I have two pinprick points approximately a centimeter apart on the back of my arm. Also, what was that number for the epidemiologist? I’m living in a house in Wisconsin that I know to have bats roosting in the attic, and I recently discovered a hole in my wall. I’ve heard them scratching and squeaking in the walls before, so I was wondering what the chances were that one could get in through the hole, bite me, and then get back through the hole while I was sleeping. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/50 "2015-01-11T19:08:21Z")
zombie or no you would be better off looking up a phone number since the message was from 1 1/2years ago. if you had two pinprick points approximately a centimeter apart on the back of your arm then if they were caused by a bat then that bat would be huge. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939/51 "2015-01-11T19:58:35Z")
Slap a piece of tape over the hole, plaster it if it is dry rock. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chance-of-being-bitten-by-a-bat-without-noticing-it-rabies-question/664939.md?page=2)