Rabies: Bat Encounters and Animal Bites
Rabies: Bat Encounters and Animal Bites
- Bat Encounters
If you discover a bat in your home and are unsure if anyone in the house was bitten or had close contact with it, you should consult your physician for an evaluation. Most people who have experienced bat bites report a stinging sensation, but it can be challenging to detect a bat bite, especially if you are asleep, due to their tiny, needle-like teeth. An infected bat’s saliva contains the rabies virus, and whether it bites you, scratches you, or flies into you, it is recommended to begin the vaccine series and have the bat tested for rabies.If you discover a bat, it should be captured and submitted for rabies testing. If you cannot safely capture the bat without causing damage to its skull or brain tissue, please notify either South Bend Animal Resource (Animal Control) or the St. Joseph County Humane Society. If you cannot catch the bat, it is recommended that you receive the rabies vaccine along with the rabies immune globulin.
Bat encounters in South Bend: contact the South Bend Animal Resource Center at (574)235-9303
Bat encounters in St. Joseph County: contact the St Joseph County Humane Society at (574)255-4726.
If you can capture or dispatch the bat yourself, double-bag it using Ziploc bags and store it in the refrigerator. The brain is the most critical part of testing for rabies, so the head must remain intact and undamaged as much as possible. The only facility authorized to conduct rabies tests on animals in Indiana is the Rabies Laboratory at the Indiana Department of Health. Please note that the bat must be deceased before being submitted for testing. The St. Joseph County Department of Health does not capture or euthanize animals.
Please call the St. Joseph County Department of Health at (574) 235-9750, Ext 7947, 7944, or 7902 if you have any questions or concerns.
- Animal Bites
If you are bitten or scratched by any animal, including pets, strays, or wild creatures, you should immediately care for the wound and seek medical attention from your physician. Animal bites can quickly become infected, and animals that bite humans may carry rabies. If your medical provider deems it necessary, animals can be tested for rabies. Contact a veterinarian for advice or treatment if another animal bites your pet. Only attempt to capture the animal yourself if you can safely do so.If you live in South Bend, contact the South Bend Animal Resource Center at (574)235-9303. If you live in St. Joseph County, contact the St Joseph County Humane Society at (574)255-4726. Contact a veterinarian for advice or treatment if another animal bites your pet.
Please call the St. Joseph County Department of Health at (574) 235-9750, Ext 7947, 7944, or 7902 if you have any questions or concerns. The St. Joseph County Department of Health does not capture or euthanize any animals.
A Public Health Nurse is available to offer guidance to the bite victim’s physician regarding rabies prophylaxis recommendations. Animal bite reports should be faxed to (574) 245-6581.
- Description and History of Rabies
September 28th is World Rabies Day. Celebrated on the death anniversary of French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur, who developed the first rabies vaccine, rabies is one of the oldest diseases known to man, and if left untreated, it is almost always fatal.
60,000 Americans receive medical treatment for exposure to potential rabies yearly. The rabies vaccine, available in the United States, is the best way to protect yourself against rabies and is available both pre- and post-bite.
Any incident involving a domestic or wild animal biting a person must be reported to the local health department within twenty-four hours. Dogs, cats, and ferrets must be observed for ten (10) days to determine if they show any signs or symptoms of a rabies infection. Bats, foxes, raccoons, and skunks are also known to harbor the rabies virus. If the animal is available and intact, it can be taken to animal control, and a sample will be sent to the state for testing. The Department of Health recommends starting the rabies vaccine if the animal is unavailable for testing.