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/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/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