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Bats and rabies a concern at this time of year, St. Lawrence County Public Health warns

Posted 6/29/13

The St. Lawrence County Public Health Department is reminding residents of the dangers bats pose as potential rabies carriers, especially at this time of year. Anyone having contact with a bat should …

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Bats and rabies a concern at this time of year, St. Lawrence County Public Health warns

Posted

The St. Lawrence County Public Health Department is reminding residents of the dangers bats pose as potential rabies carriers, especially at this time of year.

Anyone having contact with a bat should be evaluated for risk of rabies, department staffers said.

The potential for contact with bats tends to increase during warm months, as bats may seek out cooler parts of the home for relief from the heat, according to department officials. The little cracks in older homes can allow bats entry to living areas, as bats can fit through very small openings.

Most bats do not have rabies; among bats submitted to the rabies laboratory for testing, about four percent are found to be rabid.

So far this year in St. Lawrence County 20 bats have been submitted for testing and only one has been positive for rabies, staffers said. Rabies can only be confirmed in a laboratory.

Rabies is transmitted when an infected bat bites or scratches a person's skin. Bat teeth are very small and razor sharp; a wound from a bat bite may not be visible and a bat bite might not even be felt by a sleeping person, officials said.

Any person in direct contact with a bat or who was sleeping prior to finding the bat should be evaluated, as should an unattended small child, pet, or incapacitated person found in close proximity to a bat.

Rabies is a fatal disease, but can be prevented with prompt medical care following a bite or other exposure. The treatment is a series of shots, given on a specific schedule over a 14-day period, staffers said.

If you are bitten, clean the wound with soap and water and get medical attention. Call your local health department for help evaluating people or pets that may have been exposed to bats. Health department staff can help arrange to test the bat for rabies, if needed.

The department also suggested the following safety tips:

• Teach children that if they find a bat they should not touch it and immediately tell an adult.

• “Bat proof” a home by making sure open windows have screens and that other small entry points are sealed.

• If a bat is in your home or cabin, wait until the bat lands on the floor or a wall. Wear leather or other thick gloves to capture the bat in a can or box. Close the container and call the local health department. Do not throw the bat away or destroy it.

• Pets are a potential source of rabies exposure. Make sure pets are vaccinated against rabies, as required by state law.

• If you capture a bat after the department is closed, keep the bat in a sealed container and store in a cooler, freezer or refrigerator.

For more information contact the Public Health Department at 386-2325.