Health officials say a bat that tested positive for rabies has been found outside a residence in St. Matthews.
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness has not released the exact location where the bat was found, but say it was in the 40207 zip code.
Connie Mendel, Louisville’s chief health strategist, said transmission of rabies can occur through a bat’s bite or the animal’s saliva if it gets in a person’s eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound. Someone may not realize they have been bitten by a bat because they have very sharp, tiny teeth.
According to health department officials rabies in the U.S. is mostly found in wild animals including bats, skunks, racoons and foxes. The most common hosts of rabies in Kentucky are bats and skunks.
The deadly virus, which infects the central nervous system, can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness says preventative care after being exposed to rabies consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin and the rabies vaccine series. The treatment is recommended for both bite and non-bite exposures because once rabies symptoms begin there is no treatment, and the disease is fatal.
Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets against the virus, avoiding wildlife, and seeking medical care immediately for potential exposure.
Here are some tips on what to do should you encounter a bat in your home:
If possible, close the door to isolate the bat in the room.
Contact your doctor and Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness at 502-574-6650 right away. The health department will arrange for the bat to be collected and tested for rabies.
If you know you have been bitten or scratched by a bat: Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately. If the bat tests negative for rabies, you will not need postexposure treatment.
If you do not know how the bat got into your home, you will also need to contact a bat remediation specialist to determine if bats are living in your home.
If your pet encounters a bat:
Contact Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness at 502-574-6650 or email publicfacilities@louisvilleky.gov. Your pet may need to be quarantined to ensure rabies is not transmitted. Please advise the health department if you choose to have your pet quarantined at another location besides your home.
If your pet bites or scratches someone during a rabies exposure quarantine, you must report the incident to Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness.
The rabid bat is the first found in Jefferson County in 2024. There were two rabid bats found in the Metro in 2023.
Source: WAVE
You must be logged in to post a comment.