Bat flew into my hair, AIBU to seek further advice?

[SameOldMe]

Sitting in the garden and i bet flew into my head, no obvious marks or bites but terrified me ! Called 111 and they said as no scratches or bites just wait and see. It flew into my hair and in the panic i have no idea if it made contact or not. AIBU to call back and ask for a second opinion? Appreciate this if the second bat post in the last few days.

Oh dear, what do you think might be wrong?

Bats don’t really have rabies in the UK apart from some very isolated cases. I’m sure you’ll be fine. If you were in some countries I’d suggest rabies jab.

Could you clarify what exactly it is you are terrified of?

Batshit crazy?

I mean this is what she’s scared of. Bats can kill with rabies without any marks or bites. However, not really in UK

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c982m1m95q9o

I’m scared of rabies. I live in the countryside and have never had one fly right into me, I normally watch them in the garden peacefully.

I am sure the bat will be a bit stunned but fine

try not to fret

THERE IS NO RABIES IN THE Uk !!!!

If you’re worried go and get the post exposure jab. I get your worries. You really won’t have rabies, but I get the fear!

Lots of the advice here is incorrect. Call back. As you can’t be sure of a bite and contact was made you likely should receive the rabies vaccination. This is taken seriously but many health care professionals aren’t up to speed.
look at this leaflet and ask 111 to look at the link that helps assess risk
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672e187d3b601d048796ae52/UKHSA_13123_Bat_contact___rabies_risks_leaflet_2024_01_WEB.pdf

www.gov.uk/government/publications/rabies-post-exposure-prophylaxis-management-guidelines/rabies-summary-of-risk-assessment-and-treatment

Rabies doesn’t exist in the UK and it didn’t even bite you

If you're very worried you can pay for a vaccine. The rabies virus takes a while to cause infection and you can become immune before it does.

It's highly unlikely that the bat is carrying rabies and as it didn't bite or scratch you there is little chance you have been infected. But the vaccine will put your mind at rest.

I think you would be hard pushed to get treatment even if it had drawn blood.

Try not to panic. According to Google (I know) only 1% of bats world wide carry rabies.

Calm down, we dont have rabies in this country.

Not quite true. Some bats carry rabies and a Scottish bat worker died after being bitten about twenty years ago.

100% Op won’t have rabies but don’t mock her for the worry

Bats in the UK do carry rabies. Just lie and say you got scratched, you’ll be offered a jab, no one’s going to question it. Better safe than sorry.
do it ASAP doesn’t take long for rabies to infect you and become life threatening

There is very little, if any, rabies in the UK and a bat flying into your hair and immediately getting off is not really sufficient contact, in the case in the article the bat was on the boy's nose and mouth, and it wasn't known for how long.

There absolutely is rabies in bats in the UK. You are incorrect. The risk is low but it is there.

You don’t know if a bat has bitten you. Does no-one know anything about rabies transmission through bats. If you go to a country where it’s prevalent you need to be aware!

Yes. Go to A & E explain what has happened. There is protocol.

Yes we do have rabies in this country, in bats!!! Someone died in my local area of it, albeit 20 odd years ago and while it's an extreme small chance of catching it from what's happened, but given its over 99% lethal, I'd ask for a vaccination.

Ad soneone has correctly posted, if you are unsure if a bite or scratch has occured then you should he vaccinated just in case

We do. The risk is low but it is present in Bats. The OP needs to call back and ask for the healthcare professionals to call RIGS for a professional assessment.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672e187d3b601d048796ae52/UKHSA_13123_Bat_contact_rabies_risks_leaflet_2024_01_WEB.pdf

And was also in Canada, not here.

There are so many incorrect statements on this thread…

Rabies does actually exist in bats in the UK, although it’s rare. Not trying to scare you OP, but all the posters saying rabies doesn’t exist at all here are incorrect.