Bat found in Fairfield tests positive for rabies
(Photo by Oren Peles, Graphic by Solano NewsNet)
A bat found earlier this month in Fairfield has tested positive for rabies, county health officials affirmed this week.
The deceased bat was found on June 2 and was immediately tested for a variety of symptoms, including rabies.
The Solano County Public Health Office, the Solano County Sheriff’s Animal Control Division and the Napa-Solano-Yolo-Marin-Mendocino County Public Health Laboratory were the agencies involving in testing the bat and reporting its rabies diagnosis. Officials say there is no information to suggest humans were exposed to the rabies virus at this time.
Bats are the leading cause of rabies-related infections and deaths in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Rabies can be fatal, and we urge residents to be cautions around wild animals,” Dr. Christine Wu, the deputy health officer for Solano County, said in a statement on Thursday. “Residents should take the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of getting an infection by seeking immediate medical attention if bitten by any animal.”
The CDC says the majority of bats do not have rabies, but a person can’t tell if a bat is rabies-free just by looking at it. Instead, people should be proactive in avoiding exposure to bats in general by ensuring their homes have no holes, by sealing holes that are present and by utilizing proper screens on doors and windows, especially in areas where bats are known to frequent.
Those who are bitten or scratched by a bat should wash the wound immediately and seek medical attention. They should also contact local animal control or public health officials, so the bat can be captured and tested for rabies.
The Animal Control Division of the Solano County Sheriff’s Office can be reached by calling 707-784-4733.
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