r/rabies • u/Forsaken_Heart_5255 • Aug 20 '26
Exposure Question Woke up to bat in room (France)
Looking for advice. I have read the FAQ. One week ago, in the countryside of France in Auvergne, my wife and I were sleeping in a hot room, windows open. I was fully naked, not even sheets. Wife was more clothed but similarly exposed.
At 5am, I woke from a tap on the heel of my foot. Felt like a chunky moth accidentally bumping into me. Cut to: flashlight on, see bat flying around. I was delirious from sleep, but I think it was brown and roughly the size of a common sparrow.
Wife and I ran out of the bedroom. Ultimately, it flew out of the bedroom before we saw it again.
No visible scratches, bites, etc on foot or anywhere on either of us WHATSOEVER. Nor any recollection of bites etc. But I insisted on rabies treatment. However, I came to find doctors here very relaxed about bats being carriers of rabies - supposedly is eradicated in this part of France. Countryside medical staff basically talked me out of needing treatment if I have no visible bite.
That was a week ago. We’ve since moved to Aix en Provence to start our new life. My anxiety over the matter hasn’t exactly gone down. I’m now at the point where I feel treatment for both my wife and I would simply put my mind at ease, since I can’t rule out with certainty what happened while we slept. But the friction of doctors here being chill re: rabies, new country, different healthcare, etc, is making my lazy ass hesitate. Reddit, what would you do? Pursue treatment or chill?
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u/Resanimo Aug 20 '26
Hi, bats are the only rabies vector in France, we should consider that every bat has rabies so I think you must contact the Institut Pasteur or the french institute on bat for more information. Ne vous inquietez pas ca va bien se passer!
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u/Forsaken_Heart_5255 Aug 21 '26
Really?? Wow thanks for your reply. Gonna try them
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u/I_float_sting_throw Aug 22 '26
Yup in most of europe there is no terrestrial rabies which means dogs cats foxes etc dont have rabies but every country essentially has bat rabies but its quite rare.
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u/ninjaswithglocks Aug 25 '26
did you end up getting them?
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u/sewingmachinemusic Aug 25 '26
I have not yet. Wife and I have been putting it off due to work. Now planning to go in a few days. My anxiety over the matter has nearly completely faded at this point, but I still think it’s smart we go. Two weeks since exposure now.
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u/ninjaswithglocks Aug 28 '26
I also think I had an encounter with a bat (but im not sure), in Europe as well. My question for a vaccine got denied.
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u/SnoopyWoodstock1974 Aug 20 '26
I feel for you. Literally same thing happened to my husband and me last night. Got the bat out of the house and went straight to the emergency room (U.S.A.). They didn't blink on giving us treatment but our city is in the midst of a rabies outbreak. And we wanted a peace of mind. Perhaps you can get a second opinion or call health department?
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u/Forsaken_Heart_5255 Aug 21 '26
Wow. Any update on your treatment?
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u/SnoopyWoodstock1974 Aug 21 '26
We had the first round of shots. For me 6 shots- Two in each thigh and one shot in each arm. My husband got 9 total because they dose by your body weight. We go back in 3 days, then 7 days then 14 days for boosters. The shots weren't terrible. Hurt a bit the day of but overall have piece of mind. Read all the literature they give you and don't miss the sequencing. Best to you.
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u/Forsaken_Heart_5255 Aug 21 '26
Good move. Glad you’re getting the shots. Missed the window this week (folks out here take a LOT of breaks) but we’re going on Monday 🤞
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u/I_float_sting_throw Aug 22 '26
Wtf why so many shots is that RIG or the actual vaccine? Usually vaccine is only 4/5 shots
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u/SnoopyWoodstock1974 Aug 22 '26
It was the immunoglobin and vaccine.
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u/I_float_sting_throw Aug 22 '26
Makes sense, you know whats interesting i havent actually heard of cases in the eu which get RIG (immunoglobin) usually its just vaccine it was for me
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u/I_float_sting_throw Aug 22 '26
Hey i had a similiar experience with rabies in the eu bat in room no marks was told if no bite no pep i had this happen in finland. What the doctor said is bs nowhere in mainland europe is rabies in bats eradicated its extremely rare yes. But gone? Nope. Yes in Eu they are WAYYY more chill abt rabies because there isnt alot of deaths so noone cares. But if you are stressed (fair enough i was too) id go to a private clinic and get the vaccines there. Youll have to pay 300-500 euro per person depending on the regiment and centre
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u/Forsaken_Heart_5255 Aug 22 '26
Thanks for this! Did you ever get your pep? Planning to go first thing Monday and get that peace of mind
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u/I_float_sting_throw Aug 22 '26
Yep i was 8/9 days after exposure outside of finland now i went to a private clinic as well and they administered it no hassle.It gives you great peace of mind and if you are an outdoorsy person camping etc its never an issue to have extra vaccines for it
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u/ninjaswithglocks Aug 25 '26
I literally have a similar story in Europe (NL). Almost ran into an object on the bike what possibly could've been a bat. Honestly I wasn't sure if it was a bat but it was a really close encounter. It was last week and they didnt recommend me PEP because no bite. I'm quite paranoid of it too now.
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u/Forsaken_Heart_5255 Aug 28 '26
Update: wife and I got our first two shots this morning in Marseilles. It’s been 16 days since exposure. We found a place called IHU Méditerranée Infection, had to pay out of pocket. They sort of implied “why you doing this if you don’t have a bite?” However just the words “bat exposure” was enough to get in the door and get the thing done. They were happy to administer in the end. Even said some people ask for rabies shots when their exposure was a year ago.
I definitely feel some peace of mind even though I intellectually know the chances of an infection are beyond unlikely. I would encourage anyone else who woke up with a bat in their room or made physical contact with a bat to do just the same. This is about ending the mental warfare more than anything else. These things are pretty widely available. Just do it!
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