• Question: Are there any sicknesses that bats give to people?

    Asked by Kittycat24 to Jeff on 19 May 2015.
    • Photo: Jeff Shi

      Jeff Shi answered on 19 May 2015:


      We do know that bats are responsible for transmitting some diseases to people. They are probably a source for a few different types of the flu, and in some very rare cases can transmit more serious diseases like rabies or other uncommon, exotic viruses. The best thing to know is that bats do not spend very much time among humans, and it is very unlikely you will ever get anything from a bat. That being said, never handle one without proper training and equipment!

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