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Health authorities in Catalunya issued a warning to residents, urging them to avoid any contact with bats. This comes after a surge in encounters that could be dangerous in the region.
Officials reported 22 incidents of bat attacks during the first seven month of 2025. That’s a quarter of animal attacks that have been reported this year.
The Catalan Department of Health stressed that residents must never touch bats, even if they appear harmless or injured, due to the risk of contracting rabies – a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.
Catalonia is home to the majority of bats that are known to carry the European rabies virus. Health data shows that nearly one-quarter of all animal bites reported in Catalonia could be a high-risk infection.
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This warning comes at a time when summer is the peak season for animal attacks, and both humans and pets are more active outside.
Dogs accounted for 38 of the 88 animal attacks in Catalonia recorded this year. Bat encounters accounted 22 incidents.
But unlike domesticated animals, bats are a unique rabies risk as they can transmit the deadly virus to humans without showing any obvious symptoms.
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Rabies is spread through saliva from infected animals, which can be transmitted by bites or scratches to mucous membranes.
In Catalonia, there are sporadic cases of bats with rabies. There is no risk to contract rabies in Spain from land animals like dogs, cats, and ferrets.
Health officials stressed the importance of immediate medical intervention following any bat exposure. After exposure to rabies, treatment requires rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin, but symptoms are fatal and there is no cure.
According to data from the Department of Health, 63% of all animal encounters that were reported in this year required urgent medical care due to infection risks.
Catalan Epidemiological Surveillance Network receives more than 100 reports of animal attacks against humans each year. Summer is the season most likely to be affected.
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In recent years, no human cases of rabies have been reported in Catalunya and Spain. The country is free from terrestrial rabies, as are neighbouring countries such as Ireland. Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and many others.
The health warning was issued as a precaution following possible exposure incidents.
Click here for more Catalunya News by The Olive Press.
