- The Swiss Rabies Center has detected the rabies virus in a water bat.
- The animal was found in the canton of Glarus.
- According to the authorities, cases of rabies are rare.
The animal was discovered in Mühlehorn, Glarus Nord municipality, in September. The person who found the weakened bat took it to a sanctuary, where it later died. A subsequent examination at the rabies center confirmed the virus.
All people who had contact with the bat were examined as a precaution, as the Graubünden Office for Food Safety and Animal Health, which is also responsible for Glarus, announced.
No danger to the population
Giochen Bearth, the cantonal veterinarian for Glarus and Graubünden, gives the all-clear. “The find is not exceptional, but it remains rare. We know that the rabies virus can persist in the bat population, but cases like this are only discovered sporadically,” explains Bearth.
Sick wild animals or wild animals with behavioral problems should not be touched.
Keystone/Frank Molter
Despite the fact that the virus is found in bats, Switzerland has been free of so-called terrestrial rabies, which occurs in mammals such as dogs and foxes, for decades. “Switzerland has been considered rabies-free for a long time, at least as far as other mammals are concerned,” says Bearth.
“The risk of rabies occurring in dogs or other animals is extremely low, but we continue to monitor the illegal import of dogs from exotic countries.”
This is how you behave correctly
In the specific case from Glarus, there was no evidence of a danger to the population. «All people involved behaved correctly. They were checked by the health authorities and there was never a direct risk of infection,” Bearth continued. It is still important for the population to be aware of the possible risks.
“If someone finds a sick bat or a bat with behavioral problems, it should under no circumstances be touched,” warns Bearth. “You should notify the wildlife agency or bat protection and mark the location. Experts can then take the necessary measures.”
Finding bats on the ground, especially during the day, is often the first warning sign of illness.
