Diseases from Animals & Insects

• Bat-proof your home and/or cabin by using tight-fitting screens for windows and attic vents, and by keeping doors closed or screened. Visit the Ministry of Environment website for tips on bat management.
• If you have bats in your house, barn, or property, please contact BC Community Bat Programs
• Avoid places where bats like to live, such as caves and abandoned buildings
• Never touch bats, whether they are healthy or sick, alive or dead
• Keep your pet’s rabies vaccination up to date, as they may come in contact with rabid bats

• A bat has flown into your body, or has made contact with your body. You will not always be aware if you have been bitten or scratched by a bat, as you may often not feel it
• A bat is known or suspected to have bitten or scratched someone, or someone has handled a bat with bare hands
• A bat has been found in a room and you are not able to confirm that it did not have physical contact with a person (e.g., young child or developmentally challenged person)

• Wash wounds with mild soap and flush the wound with copious amounts of water under moderate pressure
• Expert opinion suggests washing should be done for at least 15 minutes. Evidence shows that effective wound first aid can significantly reduce rabies risk
• Disinfect the wound with an iodine-containing or alcohol solution
• Contact your doctor or nurse practitioner

Bats will only be tested if a person has potentially been exposed to the rabies virus. If the bat is found to be free of rabies, immunization against rabies is unnecessary.

How to trap a bat for testing if contact with humans is suspected:

• Call a licensed pest control company in your area. If professional help is not available, adults (not children) should catch the bat - be careful and avoid direct physical contact.
• Close all doors and windows in the area. Put on a hat, leather gloves, a long-sleeved jacket and pants. Using a blanket, net, broom or towel, catch the bat (without touching it and while protecting any exposed area such as your face) and put it in a container. Close the container and put it into the freezer, which will make the bat go into hibernation (deep sleep)
• If human exposure may have occurred, contact an Environmental Health Officer to arrange for animal contact assessment and for the bat to be tested

Hantavirus spreads mainly through the air when dust contaminated with rodent droppings or urine is disturbed and inhaled.

You can also be exposed by:

• Touching contaminated materials and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Being bitten by an infected rodent (rare)

Different hantaviruses are found in different parts of the world. In British Columbia and North America, the main type is Sin Nombre virus, which does not spread from person to person. Person-to-person spread has only been documented with Andes virus in South America.

Symptoms usually develop one to six weeks after exposure and may start like the flu:

• Fever, chills and fatigue
• Muscle aches and headache
• Nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain

The illness can worsen quickly and affect the lungs, causing:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Severe difficulty breathing

Seek medical care right away if you develop symptoms after contact with rodents or their droppings.

Reduce rodent exposure:

• Seal holes or gaps in buildings to prevent rodents from entering
• Store food, garbage and pet food in rodent-proof containers
• Keep indoor and outdoor areas clean and free of clutter 

Clean rodent-contaminated areas safely:

• Air out enclosed spaces before cleaning
• Do not sweep or vacuum dry droppings
• Wear gloves and a well-fitting mask in dusty areas
• Wet droppings and surfaces with disinfectant before wiping up
• Wash hands thoroughly after cleanup

If there is a heavy infestation or you are unsure how to clean safely, contact a pest control professional.

Hantavirus: Spread, prevention and risks (Government of Canada)

The virus can be transmitted to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito. Most people who get infected will not have any symptoms but the disease can be serious for one person out of about every 150 who are infected. Fortunately, you can lower your risk of infection by avoiding mosquito bites.

Take steps both here at home and when travelling to avoid mosquito bites:

• Eliminate mosquito habitat (standing water) on your property. Clean out and empty eaves troughs, pool covers, old tires or any other materials that can collect water. Empty and clean bird baths weekly, and install aeration pumps on ornamental ponds and water gardens. Fit rain barrels with tight lids or screens and empty saucers under flower pots
• Install good screens on doors and windows. Check to make sure screens fit into the frame and that there are no holes or tears
• Try to avoid outdoor activities around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and a hat. Choose light-coloured clothing since dark colours attract mosquitoes
• Use repellent containing DEET or other suitable alternatives. Follow label instructions for use.

For more information on prevention and repellents:

• Information on West Nile Virus Pamphlet (BCCDC)
• Insect repellent - which kind should I choose? (BCCDC)

• West Nile Virus (BCCDC)
• West Nile virus (Public Health Agency of Canada)

• Walk on cleared trails wherever possible
• Wear light-coloured clothing, tuck your shirt into your pants and tuck your pants into your boots or socks
• Put insect repellent containing DEET on all uncovered skin. Re-apply as frequently as directed on the containers. See BCCDC’s Insect Repellant Poster
• Check clothing and scalp (covered or not) when leaving an area where ticks may live
• Regularly check household pets for ticks

Do not do anything that can stress or crush the tick’s body. This may cause it to inject its stomach contents into your blood. Follow the steps below:

• Use tweezers or forceps to gently get hold of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Don't touch the tick with your hands
• Without squeezing the tick, steadily lift it straight off the skin. Avoid jerking it out. Try to make sure that all of the tick is removed
• Once the tick has been removed, clean the bite area with soap and water, then disinfect the wound with antiseptic cream
• Wash your hands with soap and water
• If you find one tick, check very carefully for others
• Notify your doctor if you notice any rashes or unusual health problems later

• Tick Bites and Disease (HealthLinkBC)
• Lyme Disease (BCCDC)