The information on this page only applies to the United Kingdom and is not a substitute for professional medical advice

If you are reading this because you have been bitten by a wild bat and either have not been vaccinated or are unsure about your vaccination status - wash the wound with soap and water and go to your GP now

It is worth saying that the incidence of bat rabies in the UK is very low, the chance of encountering a bat with live rabies virus is very low, virus can only cross into you by saliva into an open wound, such as a bite, or virus in to a mucus membrane - which would be very rare.  No person exposed to a rabies virus who has started rabies vaccinations with in 24 hours has gone on to develop rabies.

The three main sources of information are the Bat Conservation Trust, The Health Protection Agency and the Department Of Health.

Since 2000 according to data from the WHO Rabies Bulletin there have been 9 UK bats with rabies virus  or antibodies.

The Bat Conservation Trust advice on Bats and Rabies is here.

For GPs/Doctors/Hospital - each practice should hold a copy of the "Green Book" - Immunisation against infection disease - this was last printed in 2006 with updates being issued as needed.   For Bat Workers (both licensed and unlicensed) "Chapter 27 - Rabies" is the key chapter.  Note this is a change from the  February 2000 Memorandum on Rabies which only mentions licensed Bat workers

For Health Professionals the full version of the Green Book with current updates can be accessed on the Department of Health website.   Go to www.dh.gov.uk and search for Green Book.   For emergencies this is a copy of Chapter 27 as of September 2010.