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Rabid bat found in church restroom
By Senée Seale
published in the Daily News
October 7, 2006
FRIENDSWOOD — Friendswood Animal Control has confirmed a bat found
within the county tested positive for rabies.
The bat was found in a restroom at the Friends Church on S. Friendswood Drive
on Wednesday afternoon before services.
Friendswood Police Officer Lisa Price said Friday no one is known to have
made contact with the bat
However, Friendswood Animal Control is still investigating the incident
The bat was found alive and was tested at the city of Houston Department of
Health and Human Services, a contractor for the Texas Department of Health said.
Officials with the Galveston County Health District said this is not the
first case in the county.
Kurt Koopmann at the Galveston County Health District said two other cases
were reported earlier this year, but details were not available Friday
afternoon. He said animals with rabies show
abnormal behavior. “Particularly if it’s a bat and you
see it during the day, that’s not usual,” Koopmann said.
Rabies, which can be fatal, affects the nervous system of humans and other
mammals.
The virus is carried in the saliva of infected animals and is usually
transmitted to people and other animals when they are bitten or scratched by a
rabid animal. Preventive treatment must begin
immediately after exposure.
Avoiding Rabies
The Friendswood Animal Control offered these rabies prevention tips:
- Do not feed or handle wild animals, especially bats.
Instruct children to tell an adult if they see or find a
bat.
- Vaccinate your dogs and cats. Cats are especially
susceptible to rabies exposure from bats because cats catch
bats more often than dogs do.
- “Bat-proof” your home or business. Close all outside
openings larger than 3/8 inches in the walls, roofs and
floors. Put screens on all windows, doors and chimneys to
prevent bats from entering.
- Watch for abnormal behavior among wild animals. Most
wild animals are not seen during the daytime.
If you have any contact with a bat or are bitten or scratched by any wild or
stray animal, do the following:
- Wash any bite or wound with soap and water.
- Contact your doctor, clinic or emergency room.
- Contact your local animal control office.
If you find a bat in your home or find your pet with a bat, safely capture
the bat if possible. Use heavy leather gloves, a heavy towel or tongs to pick up
the bat. Put it in a container and cover with a tight lid. Do not damage the
head of the bat, because the brain is needed for the rabies test.
For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
409-938-2211 or 409-392-0007
kkoopman@gchd.org |
