A bat infected with rabies has been discovered in Mayenne. This is the first case reported in this department. The person who discovered the animal was referred to a rabies center. What are the risks of being infected by a bat?
This is a worrying first for Mayenne: a bat infected with rabies has been discovered in Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes. The announcement was made this Friday, August 2, 2024 by the Mayenne prefecture, following confirmation by a specialized laboratory. This case marks a historic first for the department, prompting increased vigilance.
Do not handle bats
Following this news, the Mayenne prefecture reminds that it is important not to touch bats, handle them or try to catch them. If you discover an injured or dead specimen,
In case of contact and especially of scratching or biting by the animal, it is advisable to immediately clean the wound with soap and rinse thoroughly before applying a disinfectant. Advice should then be sought quickly from a doctor or directly from a rabies center which will assess the appropriateness of preventive medical care.
The main routes of contamination
The main transmission routes are:
The bite of a rabid animal, penetrating the skin;
The scratch of a rabid animal, with the presence of infected saliva;
Contact of the saliva of a rabid animal with the mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) or an open wound.
On the other hand, recalls the medical director of Doctissimo, rabies "is not transmitted by the blood, urine or feces of an infected animal. It is also not transmitted by simple contact with the hair or fur of a rabid animal".
You should also be wary of an animal that appears healthy, because " the virus can be present in the animal's saliva for several days before symptoms appear, making transmission possible ."
What does prophylactic treatment consist of?
As a preventative measure, treatment must be administered immediately after exposure. "Rabies can be 100% prevented by implementing post-exposure prophylaxis early after exposure to an animal suspected of being rabid," Gérald Kierzek explains.
" Post-exposure prophylaxis itself includes vaccination , accompanied by the administration of an anti-rabies serum for the most severe exposures. Treatment must be carried out quickly after exposure ."
Overall, preventive treatment includes several steps:
Cleaning all wounds, immediately after the bite or scratch, with soap and water for 15 minutes;
Careful antisepsis with wound disinfection;
A check of tetanus immunity (recommended) as well as the implementation of antibiotic prophylaxis, in certain cases.
Once declared, the disease is almost always fatal, due to the lack of effective treatment. Rabies is responsible for approximately 59,000 deaths annually worldwide , mainly in Asia and Africa, most often following a bite by a rabid dog.
Comments