At 06:34 PM 9/25/97 -0700, Dean wrote:
>
>I think the original post was intended to point out that there have
>been a few recent cases nationally where it "appears" that the victim
>was never bitten, but may have actually contracted rabies through air
>transmission (I can't recall the technical term; "social contact"?).
>
>Yes, it has been the conventional wisdom that the only serious risk
>occurs if you are actually bitten, but these few cases have caused
>government health agencies (including the Centers for Disease Control,
>I believe) to recommend avoiding "social contact", just to be prudent.
>They are trying not to stir up old prejudices against bats, however.
>
Actually, studies are showing that the virus can remain viable in guano.
Researchers coming in contact with huge quantities of guano in caves have
contracted rabies even though there was no bite or broken skin contact.

It is a good idea to watch for abnormal behavior. If you see a bat flopping
around at noon, this is probably one you want to avoid. By the same token,
if you see a bat flopping around at dusk that would be more appropriate
behavior.

Peggi
Ben & Peggi Rodgers
Aptos, CA (near Santa Cruz 122 W, 37 N)
USA
woodduck at cruzio.com
http://www2.cruzio.com/~woodduck/


"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
It sings because it has a song"