Bats are often viewed as hazardous because they can transmit which disease?

Bats are often perceived as hazardous primarily due to their potential to transmit rabies, a viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, including humans. Rabies is particularly concerning because it is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, making awareness of the risk essential for public health and safety.

Bats are natural reservoirs for the rabies virus, and transmission can occur through bites or scratches from an infected bat. The wide range of environments bats inhabit, alongside their ability to travel long distances, increases the risk of exposure. Rabies vaccination for pets and post-exposure prophylaxis are critical measures in preventing rabies outbreaks related to bat populations.

In contrast, the other diseases mentioned, while they may be transmitted by other wildlife or vectors, are not primarily associated with bats. For instance, West Nile Virus is primarily carried by mosquitoes, Avian Flu affects birds mainly, and Lyme Disease is primarily transmitted by ticks. Thus, rabies is specifically linked to bats, making it the correct answer for this question.