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Original poster

Rabies

290 replies

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 23/07/2023 06:46

We found a bat in our spare room today. We live in the US. It is currently triple bagged in our refrigerator waiting to be sent to the health authority for analysis for rabies. We won't know if the bat is rabid until Wednesday. We are terrified. We have no idea when or how it got in. We have 2 kids and I am 37 weeks pregnant.

Apparently rabies vaccinations can cost thousands of dollars which we really can't afford right now .

If you believe in the power of prayer please send one up for us. We are very very scared.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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NaturalNineties · 25/07/2023 21:51

Aprilx · 25/07/2023 18:43

Or could it be that the OP was rather disingenuous to seek help about rabid bats on a UK forum where truly most people will not have encountered rabid bats before and she didn't even mention until later that she is not in the UK.

I realise that there has been an accomplished rabid bat expert posting on the thread, but I thought her post was pretty condescending in that she could not believe how many posters were uninformed about rabid bats. I am an accountant, I would not dream of posting about how I cannot believe how many people are uninformed about double entry book keeping.

Show quote history

Have a think about what the OP is going through right now. Really think how it might feel if you think you might have rabies, and your kids too. The stress and mental anguish she is experiencing. And maybe be a little less harsh?

Sigh. What’s wrong with people.

rainbowunicorn · 25/07/2023 21:49

@HuckleberryBlackcurrant No problem. I hope you get the results soon and that you can stop worrying. Must be very stressful.

Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 25/07/2023 21:45

@rainbowunicorn

I am sorry! I made a mistake and didn't read the username properly

OP posts:
rainbowunicorn · 25/07/2023 21:44

@HuckleberryBlackcurrant You will find that the person Gatekeeping as you put it was Aprilx

Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 25/07/2023 21:44

@rainbowunicorn so sorry! That is my bad. I'm not sure how to edit it.

@Aprilx

Those 2 posts were intended to be directed towards you.

OP posts:
rainbowunicorn · 25/07/2023 21:42

@HuckleberryBlackcurrant Maybe check who you are quoting. I was supporting you and had quoted someone who was not. If you look at my posts younwill see thus.

Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 25/07/2023 21:37

@rainbowunicorn

And yes, I probably intended to be condescending to be honest. Towards those people who made us out to be some kind of hysterical animal abusers when they clearly have no idea of the situation. Which I described very clearly. And which if they didn't understand, they could simply move on from, or do 5 minutes of research if they were interested to learn.

OP posts:
Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 25/07/2023 21:24

@rainbowunicorn

I wasn't seeking help. I was seeking support and sympathy. I literally mention in the second sentence of my original post that we are in the US.

What is disingenuous is people criticizing me as if they are knowledgeable about the subject but clearly haven't done a 30 second Google search.

I wasn't expecting people to be rabies experts. But I also think people can just keep quiet if they don't know much about a topic, rather than trying to rip someone to shreds.

I am British, and I like to post here as I can relate to a lot of you better than the American boards.

There are many posts on here describing situations I have never experienced. If I don't understand a particular topic, I either stay out of it or educate myself.

There's no need to gatekeep and imply I shouldn't be able to post on here if everything isn't taking place in the UK. We are all human beings.

OP posts:
Swrigh1234 · 25/07/2023 20:16

Growlybear83 · 25/07/2023 12:09

Some of the posts on here make me very embarrassed to be British. I know we are very fortunate to live in a rabies free country, but how can anyone have got to adulthood with so little understanding of what a horrendous disease rabies is, and with no understanding of how it can be spread?

I do hope the test result is negative, OP, and you can stop worrying.

Because they spend too much time watching love island to know stuff. Or if you you don’t know, just stay quiet. Rather than make yourself look like a moron, like all the bat lovers on this thread have done.

Swrigh1234 · 25/07/2023 20:14

Aprilx · 25/07/2023 18:43

Or could it be that the OP was rather disingenuous to seek help about rabid bats on a UK forum where truly most people will not have encountered rabid bats before and she didn't even mention until later that she is not in the UK.

I realise that there has been an accomplished rabid bat expert posting on the thread, but I thought her post was pretty condescending in that she could not believe how many posters were uninformed about rabid bats. I am an accountant, I would not dream of posting about how I cannot believe how many people are uninformed about double entry book keeping.

Show quote history

If you are an accountant, try reading more carefully. OP’s posts told you everything you needed to know.

PollyThePixie · 25/07/2023 19:18

oakleaffy · 25/07/2023 18:50

Surely most people know about rabies it's basic knowledge, surely? I don't know anyone who isn't aware of it on a basic level, travel is widespread these days, and many people will have had to have obtained rabies vaccines or post exposure treatments after a bite in a rabies endemic country.

It's basic health awareness.

Show quote history

I suspect quite a lot of people think it’s something you only catch from dogs.

rainbowunicorn · 25/07/2023 19:02

Aprilx · 25/07/2023 18:43

Or could it be that the OP was rather disingenuous to seek help about rabid bats on a UK forum where truly most people will not have encountered rabid bats before and she didn't even mention until later that she is not in the UK.

I realise that there has been an accomplished rabid bat expert posting on the thread, but I thought her post was pretty condescending in that she could not believe how many posters were uninformed about rabid bats. I am an accountant, I would not dream of posting about how I cannot believe how many people are uninformed about double entry book keeping.

Show quote history

Literally 2nd sentence of the OP says We live in the US. Rabies is something that I learned about as a child, my children learned and it is common in many countries. Again people just want to live in their little bubble and never learn or educated themselves about anything that does not directly affect them. That is all very well but if you don't know about something don't come on to a thread with misinformation or just to be a dick.

Festivemoose · 25/07/2023 19:02

”I am an accountant, I would not dream of posting about how I cannot believe how many people are uninformed about double entry book keeping”

Yeah but there are no public health campaigns and posters in vets/airports/docks about double entry book keeping, is there?

Tillyteacup · 25/07/2023 18:59

Thanks for your understanding. I must have assumed UK when you clearly stated US in your op. My fault for skim reading.

Isntthisniceandnew · 25/07/2023 18:58

Aprilx · 25/07/2023 18:43

Or could it be that the OP was rather disingenuous to seek help about rabid bats on a UK forum where truly most people will not have encountered rabid bats before and she didn't even mention until later that she is not in the UK.

I realise that there has been an accomplished rabid bat expert posting on the thread, but I thought her post was pretty condescending in that she could not believe how many posters were uninformed about rabid bats. I am an accountant, I would not dream of posting about how I cannot believe how many people are uninformed about double entry book keeping.

Show quote history

Rabies is something everyone needs to be aware of. Yes our chances of catching it in the UK are slim but not nil, plus many Brits travel abroad to countries where rabies is endemic. I'm pleased this thread has helped more people understand about the disease, yes it's uncommon but it is devastating and a horrendous way to die.

Cheesusisgrate · 25/07/2023 18:52

and she didn't even mention until later that she is not in the UK

Wat

Rabies
oakleaffy · 25/07/2023 18:50

Aprilx · 25/07/2023 18:43

Or could it be that the OP was rather disingenuous to seek help about rabid bats on a UK forum where truly most people will not have encountered rabid bats before and she didn't even mention until later that she is not in the UK.

I realise that there has been an accomplished rabid bat expert posting on the thread, but I thought her post was pretty condescending in that she could not believe how many posters were uninformed about rabid bats. I am an accountant, I would not dream of posting about how I cannot believe how many people are uninformed about double entry book keeping.

Show quote history

Surely most people know about rabies it's basic knowledge, surely? I don't know anyone who isn't aware of it on a basic level, travel is widespread these days, and many people will have had to have obtained rabies vaccines or post exposure treatments after a bite in a rabies endemic country.

It's basic health awareness.

Aprilx · 25/07/2023 18:43

rainbowunicorn · 25/07/2023 18:20

I think the problem with mumsnet is there are a large number of people who live in a bubble of little England. There is also the need for some people to jump onto every thread they can just to be a dick and make an ever so witty comment. When you add this mix to people with limited education and no real understanding of anything outside their bubble you get threads like this.
It can be exhausting reading at times.

Or could it be that the OP was rather disingenuous to seek help about rabid bats on a UK forum where truly most people will not have encountered rabid bats before and she didn't even mention until later that she is not in the UK.

I realise that there has been an accomplished rabid bat expert posting on the thread, but I thought her post was pretty condescending in that she could not believe how many posters were uninformed about rabid bats. I am an accountant, I would not dream of posting about how I cannot believe how many people are uninformed about double entry book keeping.

rainbowunicorn · 25/07/2023 18:20

I think the problem with mumsnet is there are a large number of people who live in a bubble of little England. There is also the need for some people to jump onto every thread they can just to be a dick and make an ever so witty comment. When you add this mix to people with limited education and no real understanding of anything outside their bubble you get threads like this.
It can be exhausting reading at times.

Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 25/07/2023 18:15

@Tillyteacup

It's such a bizarre situation I can hardly believe it myself. Certainly very foreign to me as a Brit. I have lived here for 8 yrs and never encountered anything like this, apart from exercising caution around strange animals.

A few years ago we did have a stray cat that bit and scratched me, we kept it in an outbuilding (of course, we fed and watered it) to observe for rabies and thankfully all was well. Unfortunately I can't keep a bat around in quite the same way.

The cat went to a new home after the quarantine period!

OP posts:
Original poster
HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 25/07/2023 18:12

@AxolotlOnions

When they rush the testing, which they are doing in this circumstance, I was told to expect to hear back within 24-48 hrs of the lab receiving the bat. I dropped it off at 9am yesterday....we are 3 hrs away from the lab so not sure when they would have received it but hopefully soon.

OP posts:
Cheesusisgrate · 25/07/2023 18:11

Kudos to Tilly

Tillyteacup · 25/07/2023 17:46

I do apologize for my comment. I mustn’t have read your post properly. No excuse. I really hope the tests come back negative. You did the right thing. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and your family x

3littlebearcubs · 25/07/2023 17:45

I know we are very fortunate to live in a rabies free country, but how can anyone have got to adulthood with so little understanding of what a horrendous disease rabies is, and with no understanding of how it can be spread?

This is just what I've been thinking, I can't believe the amount of posters who are complaining about killing the bat and the general lack of knowledge regarding rabies.

@HuckleberryBlackcurrant you've been on my mind today. Hoping you get good news and soon as I know it must be so stressful waiting for the results.

NaturalNineties · 25/07/2023 17:22

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 25/07/2023 14:33

Thank you everyone who has been so kind. I am hoping we hear something by this afternoon.

I have been thinking about you all day. Good luck; I have everything crossed for you. As I said before, the stats really are on your side x