Brief: Residents Urged to Heed Rabies Warning After
More Positives Found
July 20, 2006, Boulder, CO – Two more bats tested positive for
rabies in the last two weeks (one in Longmont and one in Lafayette),
bringing the total to four for the county this season. Humans can get
the disease from the bite or scratch of an animal with rabies (a rabid
animal). The disease affects the nervous system and is always fatal
unless it is treated before any symptoms appear.
Take the following precautions to reduce your risk of exposure to
rabies:
- Do not disturb or touch any bat found outdoors.
- If you are absolutely certain no pets or people had contact with
the bat, confine the bat to a room and open an outside window or door
to let it escape.
- If there is any possibility that a person or pet may have had
contact with the bat -- such as waking up to find a bat in the room --
the bat should be carefully captured for testing. Wear heavy leather
gloves, wait until the bat lands, place a coffee can or box over it,
slide a piece of cardboard underneath it, and tape it down securely.
Bats can escape through very small openings.
- If a person or pet has been bitten or has had contact with the
bat, or if you encounter an abnormal acting or obviously injured bat,
contact the local animal control agency or Boulder County Public
Health to arrange for testing of the bat and seek medical care
immediately.
For more information call Boulder County Public Health at
303-441-1564.
Additional resources:
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