Holly Willoughby 'warned of rabies risk' in new Netflix survival show with Bear Grylls

A string of huge stars are said to have signed up to take part in the new Netflix reality show Bear Hunt - fronted by Bear Grylls and hosted by Holly Willoughby

A rabies scare has rocked the set of Netflix’s upcoming adventurer reality show Bear Hunt - with celebrity contestants warned about potentially lethal bat bites.

The new reality show will star 49-year-old explorer Bear Grylls who will be joined by a string of celebs in a jungle in Costa Rica - while Holly Willoughby, 43, will make her TV return as host of the show. The series is said to have attracted star signings including 48-year-old Spice Girl Mel B and 36-year-old rugby star Danny Cipriani - among other rumoured big names.

The stars taking part in the new show - which seems to be an imitation of ITV’s long-running reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! - might wish they could have second thoughts as a new report has suggested the jungle could be full of health risks. And while medics are expected to be on hand 24 hours a day in case the worst happens, there is a risk of death from one particular disease if precautions are not taken.

Just like the Australian jungle on I’m A Celeb, the celebrities taking part in the new Netflix show could be at risk of insect and animal bites. And should someone be bitten by a bat without being vaccinated against rabies, their trip to the jungle could end up being one way.

A source has told The Sun: “As well as snakes like the venomous hog-nosed pit viper and spiders like the black widow and brown recluse, the jungle is also teeming with bats which can spread rabies. Naturally every precaution possible has been put in place by Netflix to ensure the safety of everyone working on the show, from the crew to the celebrities, but it’s a show which isn’t for the faint hearted.”

Rabies is a viral infection carried by infected animals. It is almost always fatal if contracted and after symptoms appear. The biggest areas that are affected by rabies are the continents of Asia, Africa and also in Central and South America. Symptoms include numbness or tingling where you were bitten or scratched, hallucinations, increased anxiety, difficulty swallowing or breathing and paralysis.

While a vaccine is available, anyone bitten or licked by infected animals should seek immediate medical help. The disease was branded a ‘madness disease’ in the past as dogs that were found to have the condition would turn unexpectedly aggressive. The disease was eradicated in the UK in 1922.

Filming of Bear Hunt is said to be under way this month - although the show reportedly won’t air until 2025. The show is tipped to show the celebrities trying to evade getting ‘caught’ by survival expert Bear - but it is unclear what, if anything, the prize will be for those who succeed in evading him.

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