MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. A bat found in a Monongalia County home has tested positive for rabies. The location has not been released, but the family was able to kill the bat and take it to the Monongalia County Health Department for testing and verification.
Monongalia County Health Officer, Dr. Lee Smith, said West Virginia bats are known to carry rabies and have very small, razor-sharp teeth. Because of this, bat-human interactions are treated as an exposure to rabies.
“If you wake up in a room where there is a bat flying around, then you may not know you were bitten, and we’re going to err on the side of caution,” Dr. Smith said.
Smith said humans should remember the term “wildlife” and take it at face value—stay away. If you do have to collect an animal for testing, never touch it unprotected, and don’t freeze the animal. Freezing the animal can reduce the accuracy of the test.
“You can use gloves or a couple of baggies, or whatever it takes, and don’t touch the animal whatsoever,” Dr. Smith said. “Seal it up well and immediately wash your hands.”
Homeowners should make sure vents in the roof and gables are sealed, sometimes chicken wire is an effective line of defense. Also, make sure windows have screens and doors are not left open to let wildlife into your home. But when inspecting your home, consider that bats can slip through extremely small openings.
“But if one of them flies and scratches you or something, you’re going to end up getting vaccinated and doing the post-exposure kind of stuff,” Dr. Smith said.
If you are concerned or suspect you may have been exposed, Smith said to go to the nearest emergency room due to the severity. Not all clinics or independent family practices have the medicines needed to treat a person who has been exposed.
“They don’t carry the Immunoglobulin because it has a short half life, it’s very expensive, and they may not have the vaccine, so it’s kind of a waste of time,” Dr. Smith said. “So, we always go to the larger facility because their pharmacy is going to be robust.”
Smith said the annual oral rabies vaccine distribution will begin in about three weeks. The vaccine baits will be distributed by the United States Department of Agriculture by helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. MCHD employees will hand-place the vaccine baits in urban areas of the community.
Smith The vaccine baits look a lot like crackers, and they will not harm a family pet but could cause temporary intestinal distress.
MCHD workers also removed a feral cat colony last month off Green Bag Road after a rabies report there.