Rabies

[HuckleberryBlackcurrant]

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.

So pleased for you all, OP! And sorry to hear you've had a shitty couple of months. Hope you can relax now. All good wishes to you and your family

Thank goodness it was good news @HuckleberryBlackcurrant!

I've read the whole thread and I feel like I should apologise for the varying amounts of completely obtuse commentary you've unfortunately received. Some posters should be really embarrassed with themselves.

Amazing! So glad for you- What a huge relief 🙏👍
Now you can relax ...Phew.

Good Luck with new Baby 🙂

Very happy for you and your family OP!

Great news, OP.

Glad you can relax again.

Just a thought, you said in your OP you live in the US, does that mean you are British living there? If so do you visit 'home'?

The reason I ask is that I looked up rabies vaccines here and to get them privately id £60-70 per shot. You need three shots which can be given in 7 days.

It might be worth factoring in vaccines on your next trip.

Obviously that is no good if you don't visit the UK but with a risk of rabies I think I would try to factor the vaccine into the family budget every few years.

@sashh that's a great idea!! We visit the UK on average every 2 years. I will definitely look into this! I'm British but I live permanently in the US. Husband and kids are American. But all my family are still in the UK.

I'm glad you like the idea @HuckleberryBlackcurrant the prices I quoted were via private travel clinics but a member of your family asks you might get them at your family GP.

Obviously you will still have to pay.

Doing a bit of research it looks like the treatment needed after exposure is more expensive than the vaccine.

I bet if you have a pet dog it will be vaccinated.
https://healthclinics.superdrug.com/travel-clinic/

I could cry with relief for you OP. Smiling now. Relax and enjoy your new baby when they arrive!! X

Fantastic news op - you’ve had a lot of very stupid comments on this post and you’ve waded through them admirably. I’ve definitely learnt stuff about rabies!

@HuckleberryBlackcurrant Great news, although I'd look into the preexposure vaccine further. I'm pretty sure it's not a lifelong vaccine and needs repeating every few years, although this might have been due to the high risk of ongoing exposure, so might not apply in your case .

So glad the bat was negative

So pleased to hear it's negative OP.
Now you can relax and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. All the best for the new baby xx

Phew!

Really glad to hear this @HuckleberryBlackcurrant , hope all goes well with the new arrival!