Should any person bitten by a bat receive antirabies therapy unless the bat is caught and found to be negative for the rabies virus?

The statement emphasizes the importance of rabies prevention following a potential exposure incident, particularly in the case of a bat bite. Rabies is a viral disease that poses a significant risk to human health and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Bats are common carriers of the rabies virus, and due to their often unpredictable behavior, a bite can be a serious cause for concern.

In situations where a person is bitten by a bat, rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) typically should be administered. This is recommended because there is a high risk that the bat may be rabid and that transmission of the virus to the person may have occurred. Even if the bat is eventually caught, rabies testing is not guaranteed to be definitive, particularly if the bat is not easily accessible for capture or if there is uncertainty about its health status at the time of the bite.

Until rabies status can be confirmed, the health authorities generally advise that individuals receive the vaccine, as immediate therapy can prevent the development of the disease, which is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms manifest. Therefore, unless the bat is captured and definitively tested negative for rabies, the recommendation is to proceed with vaccination to protect public health and safety.