Rabies outbreak in Shropshire

12.38.13pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 20th Aug 2007

A rare strain of bat rabies has been confirmed in Shropshire after two people were bitten by a wounded creature. The female Daubenton's bat was taken to a laboratory in Surrey where scientists confirmed the presence of European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV) - a strain of bat rabies.

Experts from Defra said the grounded bat, which has since died, was discovered in the Stokesay area on Sunday by a member of the public who took it to an animal hospital for treatment. The two people, one from Much Wenlock and the other from Birmingham, who were bitten have both received post-exposure rabies treatment and will be monitored over the coming days.

Only five cases of bat rabies have been identified in the UK in the last 11 years, with the last incident in September 2006.

Dr Harsh Duggal, for the Health Protection Agency, said: "With prompt treatment, bites, even from infected bats, are not known to cause infection in humans. In the majority of cases these are encounters with Britain's most common bat species, the pipistrelles, which so far have not been found to carry the virus."

Anyone who believes their pets may have had contact with this specific bat should call Animal Health Office at Worcester on (01905) 767111, or the Health Protection Agency on 020 8200 6868 for human contacts.

Anyone who finds a sick or ailing bat can seek advice from the Bat Conservation Trust on 0845 1300 228.