| PEP = rabies post-exposure prophylaxis
Human exposure to bats - Any direct physical contact between a human and a bat, unless the exposed person can be certain a bite, scratch, or mucous membrane exposure did not occur.
Bat bites may leave no mark and therefore not be noticed by the victim or the examining physician because bat teeth are tiny and razor sharp. Examining a person for evidence of a bat bite is unreliable and should NOT be used to determine if contact has occurred. In addition, persons handling a bat can be exposed to rabies through small or unapparent cuts or rashes of the skin. Any potential physical or direct contact with a bat should be considered a rabies exposure.
Examples of rabies exposures due to direct physical contact with a bat include:
- A bat has bitten or scratched someone.
- A bat has been in direct contact with a person's skin.
- A bat is found in the room with an unattended child, intoxicated or mentally incapacitated person or pet* and it is not known if direct contact with the bat occurred.
- A person wakes to find a bat in the room and is not certain if direct contact with the bat has occurred.
- The only circumstance in which PEP would not be recommended for the above exposures is if the bat is captured, tested for rabies and found not to be rabid.
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