A new case of bat rabies in France

Bat rabies represents an emerging zoonosis in Europe and the only endemic cause of rabies in France. A 29 year-old woman was bitten at the hand by a bat. The diagnosis of bat rabies was positive and the viral strain was an European Bat Lyssavirus 1a. A combination of rabies vaccine and human rabies immune globulin was provided to the patient. Any direct contact with a bat must be avoided. In case of exposure to bats, the postexposure treatment must associate the rabies vaccine and human rabies immune globulin because of antigenic diversity of Lyssavirus circulating in bat species.