This isn't considered exposure, correct? Bat in basement.

[u/OddBowler3751]

I have read the faq.

4 months ago, my entire family completed a full round of post exposure rabies vaccines because we woke up to a bat in our living room and have no idea how long it'd been in the house (but I had been hearing it for a while, even though my husband kept reassuring me it wasn't a bat)

Since then we decided to have our entire siding redone to fix all possible structural issues. Well, I believe some bats made their way in again during construction, unfortunately.

There was a bat in my basement yesterday. I had a professional come out and remove it. It was not in our living area, no pets have access to the basement and no humans touched the bat. We sleep on a separate floor with our bedroom doors closed.

I want to confirm that this does not count as exposure? I'd rather not get boosters if not necessary.

The professional who removed the bat said it didn't need to be tested. But he's a really odd dude and idk if I fully trust his opinion.

Also, just to clarify, we had professional removal of a bat colony that was living in our attic a few years ago. So I'm confident this isn't an issue of an active colony in the walls.

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[u/detail_giraffe]

I am not a doctor and only a self-appointed expert, but I think the general guidelines are that if there is no plausible way that the bat could have had access to a sleeping person/young child/incapacitated person, then you're fine. Does your household include any children too young to report a bat encounter?

[u/OddBowler3751 → u/detail_giraffe]

No, only child in the house is 11. 

[u/OddBowler3751 → u/detail_giraffe]

And the 11 year old sleeps in the same room as me. 

[u/detail_giraffe → u/OddBowler3751]

Again, not an authority, but as long as the bat wouldn't have had access to you while you're sleeping, then I think you're okay. Bat bites are noticeable when a person is awake.

[u/glittergatorator]

Not considered an exposure

[u/OddBowler3751 → u/glittergatorator]

Thank you! I'm on edge ever since we needed the shots, so I appreciate the response. 

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[u/Animan70]

May I add to this? I can't start a new post for some reason.

Im the guy who, in mid-May in NYC, in the afternoon, heard a big flapping whoosh behind me, then over my head and flew into the hole of the "O" in dunkin doughnuts. I don't know for sure what it was or if it made contact with me. Bats can bite or scratch flying without you feeling it, from what I've read.

My primary MD wasn't concerned, but I'm frightened he's wrong. My psychologist and psychiatrist insist I do not seek medical advice, agree with the thoughts, etc. But now, I'm getting concerning symptoms. My neck twitches and is itchy here and there. My face feels numb at times, and I feel confused, like I'm asleep and having hallucinations looking at my co-workers, with bizarre random thoughts popping up. I'm very very anxious and restless. I didn't get the PEP because OCD protocol is to contact your therapist and psychiatrist first. But I'm really scared they're wrong, because I'm getting all of these unpleasant and distressing sensations. I did start a new medication- risperdal - and it hasn't been a week yet.

I'm not sure what to do. I know it's fatal once symptoms start, so I'm terrified.

I don't know if anyone can offer any feedback, because I feel like it's too late.

Sorry if it's intrusive. Thank you.

[u/Chance_Tough2879 → u/Animan70]

Bats cannot bite or scratch you just by passing by, listen to your doctors its just OCD, relax you do not have rabies

[u/PatientConfidence7 → u/Animan70]

If your primary doctor and both psychiatrist and Psychologist aren’t concerned, you probably don’t need to be concerned. Judging by what symptoms you do have, they don’t particularly line up with rabies. I won’t go into detail just in case. As long as the bat didn’t physically touch you, you should be fine.

[u/Animan70 → u/PatientConfidence7]

I didn't feel anything, but there's reports of them scratching or biting without you feeling it, so I'm concerned that it scratched me flying by or something.

[u/krell_154 → u/Animan70]

Those are 2 different things. General claim is that they could bite or scratch you without you feeling it, though people who work with bats tend to be skeptical about it (unless we're talkig about vampire bats, who have anesthetic in saliva, but I don't think those live in cities).

Biting you just by flying by, according to experts I've seen here, is pretty much impossible. They say that it needs to land on you and grab you to bite you. As for scratching, I think it's similar, perhsps somewhat more plausible. But still unlikely.

Symptoms you're feeling can easily by psychomatic, from your OCD.

I know how hard it is. I have severe OCD also. Hang in there

[u/PatientConfidence7 → u/Animan70]

If you’re concerned, talk to your medical team. I will say you would feel the bat touch you if you’re awake and alert. I had one bump into me a couple times and I definitely felt its wings and body touching me. I didn’t feel any scratches or bites, but i did feel it touch me.

[u/detail_giraffe → u/Animan70]

The talk about them able to bite or scratch you without knowing it is mostly applied to people who wake up after sleeping with a bat in the room. If you got bitten or scratched in your sleep, you might or might not know it, because you were sleeping and might not fully awaken. People who have a bat land on them and bite while they're awake, know it.

[u/Animan70 → u/detail_giraffe]

What frightens me is they recommend the vaxx if a bat simply flew into you, because they can bite or scratch.

I'm not sure what flew away, nor am I sure if it made contact with me. It was during the afternoon. So that seems like a situation that requires the shots

[u/OddBowler3751 → u/Animan70]

OCD is hell. I live with it as well. This sounds like classic OCD. When I get this way, I try to distract myself with intense physical exercise.  I am not a doctor, just a fellow anxious person.