Lab testing has confirmed rabies in a bat found in Brant County.
This is the first confirmed local case of animal rabies this year, the Brant County Health Unit said in news release Thursday.
“While the risk of coming across an animal with rabies in our jurisdiction is still low, people should pay attention when outside,” said Filip Pajtondziev, manager of environmental health and infectious diseases.
“We recommend staying away from any animal you don’t know. If you see an animal showing rabies symptoms, keep away from it and phone Brant County SPCA as soon as possible to report the animal.”
The SPCA’s phone number is 519-756-6620.
The health unit said a person exposed to the bat, which is now dead, has begun a treatment program.
The health unit said rabies is a viral disease that causes severe damage to the brain and spinal cord and, if untreated before symptoms appear, can lead to death. The virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, such as a raccoon, skunk, bat, dog or fox, usually through a bite or scratch.
Rabies illness in humans can be prevented by the use of a rabies vaccine, which is effective, but only if it is administered before symptoms occur, the health unit said.
The health unit said symptoms of rabies in animals include: excited or very lethargic behavior; attacking objects or other animals; frothing at the mouth and biting.
The health unit said it investigates all animal bites or scratches on humans reported by the public.
The health unit offered the following tips if you are bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal:
• Wash the bite or scratch site with soap and water;
• Seek immediate medical attention;
• Phone the health unit at 519-753-4937, ext. 470.
For more information about rabies in humans, visit www.bchu.org/rabies or phone the number above.
For more information about rabies in pets, phone the SPCA.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry distributes rabies vaccine baits to curb the spread of the virus in wildlife, however, there is no vaccine or bait for bats.
In June, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed nine cases of rabies in Ontario. Six were skunks, two were bats and one was a raccoon. There were 15 cases across Canada that month.
For the first half of this year, Ontario recorded 19 cases of rabies out of total of 69 for Canada.