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Two bats found within city limits tested positive for rabies in the last several weeks, and officials are warning residents to be cautious if they find a bat in their home.
In the most recent case, a four-year-old was bitten by a bat, which later tested positive for rabies. Rabies tests must be done within the first couple of days, although that period can be extended if the body is cooled.
Beth Carrier, a Pet Medical Center employee, said that any time you find a bat inside your home, you should have it tested. The testing is paid for by the Department of Health, but the shipping costs must be paid by the resident. Anyone who finds a bat they believe should be tested should contact Animal Control at 457-6294.v
“It’s not as if people need to panic,” said Doctor Laurel Logas of Pet Medical Center. “It’s a little unusual to have two positives in one month, but just be aware that animals can carry the virus.”
One of the reasons that bats are usually the carriers for humans who contract the virus is because bats, along with skunks and raccoons, are more resistant to the disease. Thus, when infected they live longer and have a higher chance of passing on the virus.
Of particular concern with bats is the fact that since their teeth are so small, a person can be bitten and not even know it. “In the last 20 years, cases of rabies in humans have mostly been bat rabies,” said Logas, “and most of the time, the people didn’t even know they’d been bitten.”
The best way to capture a bat is by using a hard container with a lid, like a bucket or a tin can. Officials advise against using a pillowcase or any cloth item that a person could be bitten through. Never try to handle a bat.
If a person suspects they’ve been bitten, testing the offending animal’s brain tissue is the only way to determine if there is a chance of rabies.
Although there is treatment for the disease, a person must receive it before they begin showing symptoms. Once symptoms set in, the disease is most often fatal.
Officials are asking that people be aware of the possible risk, and that they make sure that their pets are all current on rabies vaccinations.
Even with the unusual occurrence of two rabid bats within one month, Logas said that bats aren’t all bad. “Bats are important as far as eating insects, they’re useful in our ecology,” she said. “We just don’t want them in our houses.”
One good way to make sure the winged creatures stay out? Find and plug all holes in your home -- including attics and basements. “They’re very sneaky,” said Carrier. “They can sneak inside a home through a hole the size of a dime.”
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