Is rabies virus transmissible through the air? (e.g., in bat caves)

Alright, here's the English translation in markdown format:

Hey there, let me break down the question of whether rabies can be spread through the air for you. A lot of people, especially those who've seen scary movies or news reports, have this worry.

The verdict upfront: Almost impossible, with one extremely rare exception

Put simply, rabies won't be spread through the air in daily life for the vast majority of us. You can walk down the street with a bat flying overhead and not worry about catching rabies just by breathing.

The main way, and practically the only way, rabies is transmitted is as we usually hear:

Bites: This is the primary method. The virus enters through a wound via the saliva of an infected animal.
Scratches: There's also risk if an animal that has just licked its paws, coating them with infected saliva, then scratches you.
Mucous membrane contact: In very rare cases, getting infected saliva or brain tissue into your eyes, mouth, or nose can also cause infection (e.g., by splashing).

Why isn't it typically airborne?

Think of the rabies virus as being quite "finicky."

The virus is fragile: It doesn't survive long outside a host. Sunlight, drying out, and common disinfectants (like soapy water, alcohol) can kill it quickly.
Needs "high concentration": To get infected via the air, you'd need air filled with an extremely high density of droplets containing live virus, and you'd need to breathe in a large enough amount. This simply can't happen in open environments.

What about that special bat cave scenario?

This is that "extremely rare exception."

This possibility does exist and is scientifically documented, but the conditions required are extremely specific and harsh:

Environment: It has to be a very crowded, confined cave with poor ventilation. Not just any cave with a few bats.
Bat numbers: The cave must contain huge numbers - thousands, even millions - of bats packed together densely.
Virus concentration: With such extreme bat density, their flapping wings, shrieking, and excretion fill the entire cave air with an extremely high concentration of saliva and excretory particles containing the virus (what we call an "aerosol").

In this extreme environment, an unprotected person (without a professional respirator) spending a significant amount of time inside could potentially breathe in enough virus to get infected.

However, critical points!

This scenario is extremely rare globally, with only a handful of documented cases. Victims were usually bat researchers or cave explorers.
Tourist caves that are developed for visitors absolutely do not pose this risk.
The few bats under your eaves or in your neighborhood trees could not cause airborne transmission.

Practical advice for you

Forget airborne transmission: In your daily life, you absolutely do not need to worry about catching rabies through the air. It's a tiny-probability event, practically at a "lab scenario" level.
The core is avoiding bites and scratches: Preventing rabies always comes down to avoiding contact and seeking prompt treatment. Don't try to pet, handle, or provoke wild animals or stray dogs/cats, especially those acting strangely.
Keep bats at arm's length: While airborne spread isn't a concern for you, bats are major rabies reservoirs. NEVER handle a bat with bare hands, whether it appears dead or alive. If a bat gets into your home, try to guide it out without direct contact.
If an accident happens: If bitten or scratched by any animal (especially cats, dogs, or bats), no matter how minor the wound seems:
- Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and copious amounts of running water for at least 15 minutes.
- Then go to a hospital or CDC/disease control center AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Let a doctor assess if you need rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin.

I hope this explanation clears things up and eases your worry about "airborne transmission"!