Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is alerting the public that if you find a bat inside your home you need to immediately contact your local animal control agency. Due to the recent wet weather, bats have been found in a number of homes in Jefferson County. Make sure your pets are currently vaccinated for rabies.
Rabies is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and can be fatal if left untreated. 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.
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.
Steps to Control and Prevent rabies:
- Avoid contact with all stray and wild animals, including bats.
- Vaccinate all cats, dogs, ferrets, and valuable livestock.
- Do not allow pets to roam free.
- Teach children to leave wildlife alone
- If bitten or scratched by a pet or wild animal, immediately wash any wounds with soap and water and contact your healthcare provider as well as your local animal control agency.
- If you are concerned that you or one of your animals might have been exposed to rabies, seek medical or veterinary attention immediately.
Resources:
- For more information or to report a suspicious animal, please contact your local Animal Control agency or Jefferson County Animal Control: 303-271-5070
For more information on rabies and prevention tips please visit our web site at: http://jeffco.us/public-health/animal-borne-disease/rabies/ or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ or call the JCPH Animal-borne Disease Program at at 303-232-6301.