Sunday 15 April 2012

Bat on a Plane! Rabies Scare Serves as Warning to Health Officials


On an August morning last year, 53 people aboard a commercial airplane from Wisconsin were potentially exposed to the rabies virus when a bat flew through the cabin soon after takeoff, according to a government report of the incident released today.

After the plane returned to the airport the bat escaped, so officials could not be determine whether it was carrying the deadly virus, but health officials found no infected passengers.

Still, in the wake of the incident, the researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say health officials should be prepared to deal with such events.

"Although a bat, or any wildlife, aboard a commercial airliner is unlikely, public health practitioners should be prepared to respond to potential exposures to rabies and other infectious agents, including during air travel," the researchers wrote.

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