Human health, animal health, and the health of ecosystems are inextricably linked, and understanding the complexity of how they interact and improving awareness to prevent exposure to disease from bats is an ongoing endeavour.
We know that bats, among other animals, can carry viruses that can make humans sick and recognize that a big part of those diseases spilling over has to do with human populations encroaching on wildlife habitats. We also know that bats serve an essential role in the ecosystem and that any “culling” or killing of bats risks increasing transmission rates.
When we destroy forests and other natural habitats to convert land for human uses, such as urbanization, agriculture, and livestock ranching, bats lose their natural habitats for roosting and foraging. Protecting where bats sleep and eat is the best way to keep bats healthy and ensure that bats and people don’t have negative interactions. By protecting bat population health, we safeguard biodiversity and invest in a healthier, more sustainable future.
Bats and health in the UK
The only known zoonotic disease associated with bats in Britain is rabies. Rabies is extremely rare, with just two human cases from bats recorded since 1902. Since 1986, less than 0.3% of bats tested have shown rabies-related viruses, and the UK’s public health systems offer excellent protection.
Learn more about bats and rabies in the UK.
While the risk of contracting rabies from bats is very low, it’s always important to take precautions - especially if you think you have been bitten or scratched.
Living safely with bats
Bats are shy, non-aggressive animals. If you encounter one, avoid handling it, and if necessary, follow proper precautions to protect both yourself and the bat. Transmission risk from bats to humans is increased by human alterations to the environment ( such as destroying roosts and feeding habitats) forcing humans and bats to be in closer contact.
Find out what to do – and not do – if you encounter a bat.
By following good practices - such as proper vaccinations, health advice, and respecting wildlife - we can minimize risks while coexisting with bats. Educating ourselves and protecting ecosystems is the best way to prevent zoonotic diseases from spreading and maintain healthy biodiversity.
Bats and diseases worldwide
Globally, bats are considered ‘reservoirs’ (long-term hosts) of a number of viruses, many of which are not harmful and cannot be passed to humans. Bats don’t host any more disease causing viruses than any other groups of animals (mammals and birds) of similar species diversity.
The risk of becoming infected with a zoonotic disease from a bat is generally low, but the consequence (or impact) of the transmission of these pathogens can be very high in some countries. For example, Marburg virus in sub-Saharan Africa can have very high fatality rates and few to no available medical countermeasures. Lyssaviruses carried by bats and other animals cause human Rabies and can be fatal, but Rabies is 100% preventable through vaccinations both before and after exposure.
In many cases the viruses bats carry do not appear to have any impact on the health of the bats. This may be because bats have evolved over many millions of years and many viruses have evolved with them, meaning that they do not cause disease in the bats themselves.
Advances in understanding bats, human and ecosystem health
There is important work being done to gain and share knowledge that will help us increase public awareness that protecting bats and their habitats has a positive impact on human health.
When wild animals like bats have sufficient natural resources, including undisturbed roosts, food, and water, they shed less virus and have less contact with people. In healthy ecosystems, bats provide economically important ecosystem services such as pest consumption and pollination. Bat conservation protects both bats and humans by producing a safer, healthier world.
Some bat life-history traits may explain why bats are reservoirs of a number of viruses. This includes the relatively long life spans of bats, the distances that bats cover by flight when feeding, commuting or migrating and their often social roosting behaviour (sometimes in close proximity to people). There is obviously some variation between species in these traits but one thing all bats have in common is their ability to fly and it is this trait in particular that may be the reason that bats are able to carry, but not be affected by, many viruses.
Flight is very energetically expensive and it is believed that this has resulted in bats developing excellent immune systems which allow them to fight off disease.
Understanding how bats do this may lead to benefits for human health. In fact there are many aspects of bats' ability to fight disease that researchers believe could ultimately lead to future advances in human health care.
Last updated: January 2025
