Rabies

Cases of rabies infection are rare in the United States, but it can only stay that way through education about the disease, its prevention, and wound treatment and care if a person is bitten. This disease is so dangerous that it does have a 99% mortality rate when it is not treated immediately and there is an estimated 70,000 death worldwide a year. In order to keep this number to a minimum, people need to know where it comes from and what to do if they feel they have been infected.

Rabies-Vector Species

All mammals are capable of carrying the disease, but in the United States, it is mostly found in raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, and bats. The rabies disease is transmitted in the form of bites because it is present in the saliva of the infected animal. It has been shown that bats are the most common way that people come into contact with the disease or are infected with it. For this reason, it is necessary for people to understand bat behaviors so that they can minimize the risk factors.

Signs Of Rabies

Bats are nocturnal animals that are going to roost in areas like caves, trees, and buildings during the day. It is not uncommon for them to find uncharacteristic roosting sites like the attic of a home or underneath an umbrella that has been left outside. These uncharacteristic sites are going to be the places that are going to put them in close proximity to people. It is not possible for a person to tell if a bat has rabies by just looking at them. Bats will hiss and screech if they feel threatened in any way.

Contact With A Rabid Bat

Many species are able to take flight from the ground but there are some that are only able to fly away from a roosting area. They also have small teeth and can leave bite marks that are difficult to notice, and these marks can also disappear before they are noticed. It is important that if bats are found in areas where they shouldn’t be or in areas that put them in close contact with people that they are removed immediately. Trained professionals should be called in order to remove them from these areas. A local health department will be able to assist in locating qualified professionals to deal with them in a way that is humane for the animals and safe for the people as well.

Rabies Exposure Treatment

If someone feels that they have been bitten and exposed to rabies, it needs to be taken care of immediately. If they are able to locate the bite wound, it should immediately be washed with soap and water for a few minutes and then they need to seek medical care. If a person believes they may have been bitten because they located a bat in an area that would give them access to bite, they should seek medical attention immediately.

There are certain actions that medical professionals will take in order to help the possibly infected person. They will administer a vaccine to the person in pre-prescribed areas. There is also an immune globulin that will be administered as well.

A bat bite or a bat problem is not something that should be taken lightly. It can lead to serious illness and death if it is not handled immediately and appropriately. Bats are a necessary animal in nature because of their duty in controlling insect populations in the regions where they live. This is why they need to be treated with respect and be handled in ways that are humane and safe for everyone.