The JCPH
animal-borne disease program works to monitor and respond to disease
threats in the county, as well as monitor any positive rabies tests from
animals such as bats. It is important for everyone to take precautions against
rabies exposure. While only a small percentage of bats are infected with
rabies, it is important to avoid close
contact with them. The public should
contact their local animal control if they find a dead bat or if they find a
bat behaving strangely. Animal control will determine whether the bat needs to
be collected and tested. Animal Control
will collect specimens for rabies testing if there is a possibility that the
bat had contact with people or their pets--particularly within the home or
other enclosed buildings.
Jefferson County Health officials advise that even what may seem as insignificant contact with a bat may still be sufficient to transmit the rabies virus. Rabies is spread most often through contact with bat saliva, as a result of bites or from exposure to cuts on the skin. In some instances, people may be unaware that they were bitten and may not see puncture wounds.
Steps to Prevent Rabies:
- Residents are urged not to handle wild animals and
to beware of any bats or skunks seen during day light hours. Bats that
are active during the day (seen in places where bats are not usually
seen, i.e. indoors, on the lawn) or any bat that is unable to fly should
be considered possibly rabid and reported to the appropriate animal
control agency.
- Pet owners should be sure their pets have current
immunizations for rabies and keep their pets from roaming free.
Vaccination is essential to protecting pets and preventing further spread
of the disease.
- Wash any wound from an animal thoroughly with soap
and water and seek medical attention immediately.
- Have all dead, sick, or captured bats/skunks tested
for rabies if exposure to people or pets is suspected.
- Keep wild animals from entering homes, churches,
schools, and other similar areas where they might contact people and
pets. Seal up holes that might allow bats into your living quarters. Any
openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch should be caulked. Use
window screens, chimney caps, and draft-guards beneath doors to attics,
fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking,
and ensure that all doors to the outside close tightly.
Resources:
·
For more information or to report a suspicious animal, please
contact your local Animal Control agency or Jefferson County Animal Control at
303-271-5070
·
For
more information on rabies and prevention tips please visit our Animal-Borne
Disease Rabies page, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention Rabies page, or call the JCPH Animal-Borne Disease Program
at at 303-271-5700.
