Rabies is officially erradicated in Portugal since the 1960's. I've searched for official data at: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data?s=rabies

Most cases (we're talking 0-3 in a given year) in Europe seem to be imported from tourists or immigrants returning after being bit by a wild animal. This was the case in 2011 in Portugal after a dog bite in Guinea-Bissau (article in portuguese): https://www.publico.pt/2012/03/31/jornal/portugal-registou-c...

So looking at the data, it seems the little bats have been harmless for at least 60 years.

Rabies is very rare in Europe nowadays.

That's because the main vector was the fox. The vaccination campaign that was started in the 1980s was extremely successful.

Oooh, I did not know this and love to read more about it! Do you have a good source/expository article?

Here's a pretty thorough report from the European Union: https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/safety/docs/sci-c...

The NY Times had something about the first trials in Switzerland: https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/08/us/use-of-a-live-vaccine-...

These are great, thanks!

You wouldn’t have to worry about rabies too much in a stable population like that. If they’re living their lives inside the library, the only risk would be if a human with rabies entered the library and was bitten by a bat; a very low probability event.

From my understanding the bats only enter the library at night, hunt and leave.

The article says they make their home behind the book shelves of the library, and come out at night.

Thanks, my bad, I read the article but for some reason my mind created the wrong image.