INC NEWS - Rabies alert

[pat carstensen]

Durham County Animal Control is sending out a rabies alert to the residents 
of
Durham.  A citizen in Durham is currently undergoing post exposure rabies
treatment after being exposed to a bat that tested positive for rabies.  The 
bat
landed on the citizen while she was outside of her residence and the citizen
discovered the bat on her body when she went into her home.  After seeing 
the
bat bite her, the citizen captured the bat and contained it.  Animal Control
picked the bat up from the citizen’s residence and the bat was sent to 
Raleigh
to be tested and positive results were confirmed on Wednesday, May 10, 2006.

In the past 12 months four bats have tested positive for rabies out of
approximately 50 that have been submitted for testing.  The reasons for 
testing
ranged from bats found in the home to bats that exposed pets or were found 
dead
in the home.  Animal Control advises that all bats that are in the direct 
living
quarters of a residence (such as bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens) should 
be
tested for rabies because of the risk of unknown exposure. 

If you should find a bat in your home, contact Animal Control immediately
(through 911 after the hours of 5:00PM and weekends).  Close all doors and
windows in the room where the bat is located and make sure all pets and 
people
are out of the room.  An Animal Control Officer will come to your residence 
and
capture and remove the bat to have the bat tested for rabies.  Should you 
find a
dead bat in your home, it should still be tested for rabies.  Due to the 
risk of
exposure, Animal Control does not recommend capturing and releasing live 
bats
from inside of your home.  It is also not recommended that you try to kill a 
bat
in your home, as the damage from being hit with blunt force often renders 
the
bat to be unable to be tested for rabies.  All efforts should be made 
towards
live capture of bats in your home and this should be left to Animal Control.
All Durham County Animal Control Officers are inoculated against rabies and 
have
the equipment necessary for safe capture.

If you believe there are bats living in non-direct areas of your home such 
as in
attics or basement, you should contact a local pest removal service to have 
the
bats removed and the point of entry sealed to prevent further invasion.  
Durham
County Animal Control can provide numbers of companies that provide this
service.

Pets, especially cats, have been known to capture and play with bats.  All 
dogs
and cats four months of age and older are required by State law to be 
vaccinated
against rabies.  Pets that are current on vaccinations that have potentially
been exposed to a rabid animal are required to re-vaccinated within 72 hours 
of
exposure.  Should you believe that your pet has had contact with a bat or 
any
other potentially rabid wildlife, confine and isolate your pet and contact
Animal Control immediately for instructions on what steps to take.

If you have any questions regarding bats and rabies, please contact Durham
County Animal Control  between the hours of 8:30AM and 5:00PM at 
919-560-0630
X229. Animal Control also offers low cost rabies vaccinations at the Animal
Control Office by appointment for all dogs and cats in good health and four
months of age or older.  Call the Durham County Animal Control Department 
for an
appointment.


[Please contact the Public Information Office at (919) 560-0000
for information related to news releases.] 

The News Release web page contains official news releases issued
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Please email public_information at durhamcountync.gov with any questions.

Prepared by:
Wil Glenn
Public Information Specialist
(919) 560-0000
County Managers Office
200 East Main Street
Durham, NC 27701

Durham County Government Official Website:
http://www.durhamcountync.gov/