SHAWANO, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – A bat in Shawano County has tested positive for rabies.
The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department says this is the first confirmed case of rabies in a bat in the county this year. The department says while it’s not uncommon for Shawano County to have at least one rabid bat a year, the positive result is an important reminder that the fatal disease is present in the community’s wildlife.
Rabies is transmitted from infected mammals to humans, typically through a bite, and is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. The disease can also be transmitted if a rabid animal scratches a person or its saliva is exposed to broken skin.
If a person has had any physical contact with a bat and the possibility of a bite or scratch cannot be ruled out, rabies preventive treatment may be necessary.
Early symptoms of rabies may include irritability, headache, fever, double vision and itching or pain at the exposure site. The disease eventually progresses to spasms of the throat and the muscles used for breathing, convulsions, delirium, paralysis and death. By the time any symptoms appear, rabies cannot be successfully treated.
The health department recommends ensuring all pet dogs, cats, ferrets and livestock are vaccinated against rabies. People should stay away from all wild animals, especially those acting abnormally, and should not keep exotic or wild animals as pets.
The department also recommends excluding bats from inside living quarters by keeping screens in good repair and closing up any small openings that could allow them to enter. If a bat is found inside your home, do not release it until you have spoken with the health department, as testing may be necessary.
If you are bitten or scratched, promptly cleanse the bite wound with liberal amounts of soap and water. Contact your physician or go to your local emergency room. If the offending animal can be safely captured without further injury, hold the animal until the local health department can be consulted.
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