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Worried about bat Rabies

Posted , 4 users are following.

Never.Enough
Never.Enough

I was travelling in Portugal last week on holiday with family when I visited the Benagil caves ion the south  coast in the Algarve. Whulst swimming  in the sea I cut my leg  slightly on the rocks and then afterwards climbed  some of the little coastal  rocks and  sat in one of the caves.

I never actually saw any bats although I heard that some do live in  near the sea caves in the Algarve and Im not sure if I sat in any bat feces which would have dropped to the floor.

Is it likely at all that I could have been exposed to bat rabies by being in the cave with a cut on my leg, such as if a bat had spat or salivated from the ceiling and it dropped onto my leg?  Does it generally have to be an actual bite,  or am I worrying uneccasarily?

Thanks,

Rob

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Purpledobermann
    Purpledobermann Never.Enough

    Posted

    Unless you manically rubbed the wound directly on bat excrement, or smeared it with blood or fluids and unless your wound was at the same time a deep tissue wound no. It is not that easy to catch rabies just by exposing a superficial wound to the pathogen. Put it this way, if you go to a doctor with this story you won't even be considered for a vaccine smile

    • Purpledobermann
      Purpledobermann

      Posted

      I mean anything is possible but your risk is as small as can be.
    • Never.Enough
      Never.Enough Purpledobermann

      Posted

      Yeah I did wonder if it was too small a risk to visit the doctors about. I didnt see bats but I read they sometimes live in the caves near there. My cut didnt touch the ground but I guess my concern was if a bat was dribbling or something. It wasnt a deep would and it healed in the sea soon after.

      Thanks

      Rob

  • iqbal_45667
    iqbal_45667 Never.Enough

    Posted

    I think you are worrying unnessarily. God willing you will remain perfectly alright.
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