Latest news with #EBLV1
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Extremely rare virus that causes RABIES found in bat in UK garden after mum died from disease caught petting dog abroad
THE virus that causes rabies has been found in a bat in a back garden in Britain. The rodent was found in Shorwell on the Isle of Wight and tested tested positive for European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1), an extremely rare virus known to cause the deadly disease in humans. 7 7 7 It comes just days after a grandmother tragically died from rabies following a scratch from a stray puppy while on holiday in Morocco. Meanwhile, the resident who discovered the injured bat used gloves to place it in a shoe box and kept it safely overnight before calling the Isle of Wight Bat Hospital. The animal was collected by volunteers the following day, and Government officials later confirmed it had tested positive for EBLV-1. The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the bat was humanely put down to prevent any risk of transmission. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) investigated the incident but found no evidence of bites or scratches to humans or other animals. Although EBLV-1 can cause rabies, it is different from the rabies virus most commonly associated with dogs, which causes the majority of cases worldwide. Both EBLV-1 and a similar strain, EBLV-2, are extremely rare and have only been found in a small number of bats in the UK. Experts say the discovery does not change the UK's rabies-free health status, and other mammals are not considered to be at risk. It comes after Yvonne Ford, 59, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, died after unknowingly contracting rabies while abroad earlier this month. She was scratched by a puppy during a trip to Morocco in February but did not believe it was serious at the time. Video of mum dancing on holiday before she died Two weeks before her death, she fell ill with a headache which quickly progressed. Her daughter, Robyn Thomson, revealed that Yvonne lost her ability to walk, talk, sleep, and swallow before she died. Speaking out to raise awareness, Robyn said: 'Our family is still processing this unimaginable loss, but we are choosing to speak up in the hope of preventing this from happening to others.' She added: 'She was scratched very slightly by a puppy in Morocco in February. "At the time, she did not think any harm would come of it and didn't think much of it.' The Bat Conservation Trust explained that the two known strains of lyssavirus found in British bats have only been recorded in 59 of more than 19,000 bats tested since 1986. Only two species—the serotine and Daubenton's bat—have tested positive. EBLV-1 has been detected in serotine bats since 2018, with the first case confirmed in Dorset. Rabies is passed through bites and scratches, or if infected saliva enters a person's eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound. Symptoms may take weeks or months to appear, but once they do, the disease is almost always fatal. Signs include confusion, hallucinations, paralysis, difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, and numbness around the affected area. Alex Morss, from the Bat Conservation Trust, urged anyone who has been licked, scratched, or bitten by a bat to call the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228 and seek immediate medical advice. He said: 'There is no risk to human health if you do not handle British bats, even if they are roosting in buildings you use. "No action should be taken to disturb or harm any wild bats or their roosts.' Bats in the UK are protected by law and should only be handled by trained and licensed individuals. If a bat is injured or in need of rescue, gloves and a face covering should always be worn. The NHS offers a rabies vaccine, which is 100 per cent effective if given promptly after exposure. In some cases, a treatment called immunoglobulin may be administered directly into the wound. Dr Katherine Russell from the UK Health Security Agency said: 'If you are bitten, scratched or licked by an animal in a country where rabies is found, wash the wound with soap and water immediately and seek medical help without delay.' She added: 'There is no risk to the wider public in relation to this case. "Human cases of rabies are extremely rare in the UK, and worldwide there are no documented instances of direct human-to-human transmission.' Yvonne's family have since shared tributes and videos of her dancing with her grandchildren just weeks before her sudden decline. They hope her story will raise awareness and remind holidaymakers to take animal bites or scratches seriously, especially in countries where rabies is a known threat. What rabies does to the body and how it's treated The infection is common worldwide but is predominantly found in Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Some of the animals that are most likely to spread the disease are dogs, bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons. Symptoms After a bite or other rabies exposure, the virus can take weeks or months to start causing symptoms. This timeframe is what doctors call the incubation period in which the virus is travelling through the body and to the brain. Some of the most common symptoms of rabies include: Fever Headache Excess salivation Muscle spasms paralysis mental confusion The World Health Organization describes two main manifestations of the disease: furious rabies and paralytic rabies. People or animals with furious rabies may appear agitated, become aggressive, and drool excessively, while other symptoms include hyperactivity, fear of water, and even fear of fresh air. The symptoms of paralytic rabies, on the other hand, are more understated—typically causing gradual paralysis as a patient remains calm and lucid. Treatment If you've been bitten or scratched by an animal in an area with a risk of rabies you should immediately clean the wound with running water and soap for several minutes. After this, you must disinfect the wound with an alcohol- or iodine-based disinfectant and apply a simple dressing. After the wound is addressed, you should see a doctor as soon as possible and they will determine if you need a rabies vaccination or not. Post-exposure treatment is nearly 100 per cent effective if it's started before any symptoms of rabies appear. Some cases will require immunoglobulin, which is administered into and around the wound. This provides short-term protection if there is a significant chance of infection in the wound. Treatment should ideally begin within a few hours of being bitten, but can be delayed up to 24 hours if needed 7 7 7 7
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Rare virus discovered in bat on Isle of Wight
An injured bat rescued from a garden in Shorwell, Isle of Wight, tested positive for the extremely rare European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1). EBLV-1 is a rabies -like virus, distinct from the common dog rabies, and is found in only a very small number of bats, not affecting the UK's rabies-free status. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency investigated the incident and found no evidence of human or animal exposure to the infected bat. The Bat Conservation Trust advises anyone bitten, scratched, or licked by a bat to seek immediate medical attention and contact the National Bat Helpline, as rabies can be fatal if untreated. All British bats are legally protected, and the public is advised not to handle them. If rescue is necessary, thick gloves and a face covering should be worn.
The Independent
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Bat found with rare rabies-like virus in UK back garden
An injured bat that was rescued from a back garden tested positive for an extremely rare rabies -like virus. Using gloves, the resident of the house in Shorwell picked up the bat and kept it safe in a shoebox overnight. The animal was collected by volunteers from the Isle of Wight Bat Hospital the next day, the BBC reported. The bat was later found to have a virus that caused rabies, known as European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1), the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed. The bat was humanely euthanised as a result. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) investigated the incident and did not find any bites or scratches to humans or other animals. There are two types of viruses that cause rabies carried in bats in the UK - EBLV-1 and EBLV-2. Both of these viruses are extremely rare and only found in a small number of bats. Although EBLV causes a rabies-like virus, it is not the same as the rabies virus associated with dogs, which causes most cases worldwide. The presence of the virus does not change the UK's rabies-free health status, and other mammals are not considered to be at risk, according to Defra. Rabies can be passed on if an infected animal bites or scratches you or if the animal licks your eyes, nose or mouth, or if you have a wound that is licked, according to the NHS. Symptoms of rabies can take up to 12 weeks to appear, but once they do, rabies is almost always fatal. Symptoms include hallucinations, difficulty swallowing and breathing, paralysis and numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched. The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) explained that both strains of the bat virus have only been recorded in 59 out of 19,000 bats tested since 1986. Only two of 18 bat species tested positive: the serotine bat and the Daubenton's bat. European Bat Lyssavirus-1 (EBLV-1) has been detected in Serotine bats since 2018, with the first case being found in Dorset, according to APHA. Alex Morss from the charity warned that anyone who had been in contact, such as licked, bitten or scratched by a bat, should contact the National Bat Helpline - 0345 1300 228 - and seek immediate medical assistance. A bat worker from Scotland died from rabies caused by EBLV in 2002, which is why the charity takes a precautionary approach and advises that anyone who is bitten by a bat gets medical help as soon as possible. The NHS does offer vaccinations that, if provided soon after exposure, are 100 per cent effective in preventing the disease. "There is no risk to human health if you do not handle British bats, even if they are roosting in buildings you use,' Mr Morss told the BBC. "No action should be taken to disturb or harm any wild bats or their roosts.' All British bats are legally protected and should only be handled by someone with a licence. But if a bat needs rescuing, thick gloves and a face covering should be worn.
