CLARK COUNTY -- A bat caught in a Springfield home on Friday has tested positive for rabies.
The Clark County Combined Health Department said bats have been the only animal to test positive for rabies in Clark County since 2005.
A probability of rabies exposure is higher when bats are found in a room with a sleeping person, found in proximity to an unattended child who is not able to describe what happened or with an individual under the influence of alcohol or drugs or with other sensory or mental impairments.
If you think you might have been exposed to a bat, seek medical attention immediately at an emergency room or urgent care and explain to them that you may have been exposed to a bat.
It is always best if the bat is captured so that it can be tested. If you do not feel that you can capture the bat, contact a wildlife specialist or CCCHD at 937-390-5600.
The CCCHD says rabies is a serious disease that is caused by a virus. The virus travels through the central nervous system to the brain. Once it reaches the brain, the disease nearly always causes death. Bats are the most common carriers of rabies. But, other wild animals may also be carriers of the disease. The presence of one affected animal in the area means that local residents should be concerned about the possibility of more and take the proper precautions.
The Clark County Combined Health Department said bats have been the only animal to test positive for rabies in Clark County since 2005.
A probability of rabies exposure is higher when bats are found in a room with a sleeping person, found in proximity to an unattended child who is not able to describe what happened or with an individual under the influence of alcohol or drugs or with other sensory or mental impairments.
If you think you might have been exposed to a bat, seek medical attention immediately at an emergency room or urgent care and explain to them that you may have been exposed to a bat.
It is always best if the bat is captured so that it can be tested. If you do not feel that you can capture the bat, contact a wildlife specialist or CCCHD at 937-390-5600.
The CCCHD says rabies is a serious disease that is caused by a virus. The virus travels through the central nervous system to the brain. Once it reaches the brain, the disease nearly always causes death. Bats are the most common carriers of rabies. But, other wild animals may also be carriers of the disease. The presence of one affected animal in the area means that local residents should be concerned about the possibility of more and take the proper precautions.