Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Rabid Bat Confirmed in Ventnor

A bat collected from a Ventnor home on August 16 has tested positive for rabies according to Atlantic County Health Officer Patricia Diamond. Two bats were discovered in the home's utility room and removed by an exterminator. They were then turned over to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health and immediately sent for testing. Results provided by the New Jersey State Department of Health laboratory confirm that one of the bats tested positive for rabies. An investigation conducted by county health officials at the residence found no human or pet exposures.

This is the third confirmed incident of rabies among bats collected from Atlantic County this year. Earlier this month a rabid bat was collected from Mullica Township and in July four bats collected from a Galloway Township property tested positive for rabies.

Diamond reminds residents to avoid direct contact with all wildlife, including bats. Infected bats carry the rabies virus in their saliva and can pass the disease through bites. Newer findings suggest that limited or seemingly insignificant physical contact with rabid bats may result in transmission of rabies virus to humans, even without a definite history of a bite.

Residents who find a bat in their home are urged to leave it alone until an animal control officer, police officer or other responder arrives on the scene to capture the bat.

If necessary, bats can be safely captured using leather work gloves, a small box or coffee can, a piece of cardboard and tape following these steps:

1. Wearing leather work gloves, place the box or can over the bat
2. Slide the cardboard under the box or can to trap the bat inside
3. Securely tape the cardboard to the box or can
4. Punch small holes in top of cardboard
5. Call the Atlantic County Division of Public Health at (609) 645-5971 to report incident


The captured bat should be kept in cool storage until a determination by health officials as to whether rabies testing is necessary.

Public health officials recommend the following steps to protect your family and pets from rabies:

Make sure your dog or cat's rabies vaccination is current. Residents may check with their local municipality for the date and location of their 2007 annual rabies vaccination clinic. In addition, the Atlantic County Animal Shelter holds a free clinic each month. The next clinic will be on September 16, 10 AM to 12 noon, at 240 Old Turnpike Road, Pleasantville. Call (609) 485-2345 for more information.

Dogs and cats who receive an initial rabies vaccination are not considered immunized until 28 days after the vaccine has been administered therefore it is strongly recommended that any animal newly vaccinated or those too young to receive the vaccine (less than three months) not be left outdoors unattended. Situations have arisen where pet owners have left unvaccinated or newly vaccinated pets outdoors where they have sustained exposures to known or suspect rabid animals, resulting in euthanasia or six months strict confinement. Keep your pet on a leash. Do not allow your pet to roam; it can come in contact with rabid wildlife.

Teach your children to stay away from wild, stray or aggressive animals.

Never feed or touch wild animals, especially bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes, or groundhogs. Do not try to keep these animals as pets.

If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound immediately with soap and water and seek medical attention.

Report all animal bites to the Atlantic County Division of Public Health at 609-645-5971.

For more information about rabies control, visit the Atlantic County web site at www.aclink.org/publichealth or call 609-645-5971.

County News