HIGHLAND COUNTY, Ohio — A bat collected in Highland County has tested positive for rabies, the Highland County Health Department announced Thursday, though officials say there is no known exposure to a human or pet at this time.
The health department was notified of the positive test result on Wednesday, according to a news release. Health officials said rabies is rare in people in the United States but is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, making prompt medical care after any contact with a bat critical to preventing illness.
Rabies is seen most often in bats, skunks, raccoons and other wild animals, health officials said, but dogs, cats and people can also become infected. The virus lives in the saliva of an infected animal and spreads through a bite or by getting an infected animal’s saliva into an open cut, the eyes, nose or mouth. The health department is urging residents to avoid direct contact with bats and other wildlife.
The Highland County Health District issued the following recommendations:
- Never touch a bat or other wild animal with bare hands.
- Contact a health care provider immediately after being bitten or scratched, or after any direct contact with a bat.
- Teach children to stay away from bats and other wildlife and to tell an adult if they touch one.
- Keep dogs, cats and ferrets up to date on rabies vaccinations.
- If a bat is found in a room with a sleeping person, an unattended child, or anyone who could not reliably say whether they were bitten, contact the health department and a health care provider.
- If it can be done safely, capture the bat for testing.
The health department said it encourages residents to continue reporting potential rabies exposures and submitting animals for testing when appropriate.
Residents with questions about rabies exposure, bat encounters or rabies prevention can contact the Highland County Health Department at (937) 393-1941 or [email protected].
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Highland County Health Department.
