Posted by Silver Linings
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Oct 28, 2023 at 9:57 am
Silver Linings is a registered user.

Thank you for the wonderful article about these beneficial creatures.

Expanding on the point about rabies: while it’s true that globally, most cases of rabies come from dogs—thousands of tragically 100% preventable deaths every year—in the US, 70% of human cases come from exposure to bats and almost all cases in humans and domestic pets come from exposure to wildlife.

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This is NOT because rabies is a big problem in bats, but because we’ve done such a good job with vaccinations. Bats are hugely beneficial creatures.

One of the most alarming things I’ve heard about vaccine misinformation recently is people not getting rabies shots for their pets.

Rabies is a horrible tragic disease that is 100% fatal if not treated by vaccination before symptoms appear, and 100% preventable if vaccinations ARE given before symptoms appear. Vaccination is 100% effective at preventing disease after exposure, with an excellent safety record.

If you have even a remote risk of having been exposed, CDC guidelines recommend vaccination.

Current CDC recommendation is that if you have been around bats without 100% certainty you haven’t been exposed, such as being drunk or being asleep in a room with a bat, because bat bites can so easily go undetected, the CDC recommends prophylactic vaccination.

Again, this is not because the risk is high, but because the consequence is 100% a horrible death that is 100% preventable by vaccination before symptoms occur. Symptoms typically take time, so it’s not an emergency, but consult your doctor if you have any potential exposure such as a bat in the house while you are sleeping.

Don’t fear these lovely creatures which are for good reasons a symbol of good luck in other parts of the world. But do be smart if you have had any risk of exposure and can’t 100% rule it out.

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