[ad_1]
Health officials have warned that a bat found in Orange County last week tested positive for rabies.
The bat was found on the ground on April 17 by a walk around Lake Rancho Santa Margarita, according to the Orange County Healthcare Agency.
The Health Department is urging the HCA’s Infectious Disease Management Department to call 714-834-8180 after witnessing someone who may have physical contact with the bat or someone else in contact with it.
Pet owners who believe the animal may have come into contact with a bat are advised to contact their veterinarian.
Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease, and is mostly transmitted through biting in rabies animals. Although rare, the virus can also spread when infected saliva comes into contact with the eyes, mouth, or open wounds. Bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and bites can be difficult to detect due to their small tooth size.
Immediate treatment after exposure is essential to prevent the onset of symptoms, and when symptoms appear, it is almost always fatal, officials said.
The HCA and the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center encourage the public to take the following precautions:
Avoid contact with wild animals. Vaccinate cats and dogs for rabies. Do not sleep with free windows and doors open. If a bat is found indoors, contact animal control. Do not leave pet food outside. Wash the animal bites thoroughly and seek immediate medical consultation. Report all animal bites to Mission Vieho Animal Services Centre, 949-470-3045.
For more information about rabies, please visit the CDC website CDC.Gov/Rabies.
[ad_2]Source link
