NEW: RI Health Warns of Bat That Tested Positive for Rabies in Portsmouth
GoLocalProv News Team
NEW: RI Health Warns of Bat That Tested Positive for Rabies in Portsmouth
With rabies being a fatal disease, RIDOH is urging anyone who may have had contact with the bat to contact the Center for Acute Infectious Disease Epidemiology at 401-222-2577 (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) or 401-276-8046 after hours for treatment guidance.
Bat Tests Positive for Rabies
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTAccording to RIDOH, the bat was found on January 11 between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. at the intersection of Massachusetts Boulevard and Anthony Road.
On January 14, the bat was submitted by a Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist to RIDOH’s State Health Laboratories for rabies testing.
The positive rabies test was confirmed on January 15.
Preventing Rabies
The rabies virus infects the central nervous system.
If a person does not receive the appropriate medical care after a potential rabies exposure, the virus can cause disease in the brain, ultimately resulting in death.
Rabies treatment must be started as soon as possible after exposure.
RIDOH and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) make the following recommendations to prevent rabies:
- Make sure all dogs, cats, and ferrets are up to date on rabies vaccination.
- Avoid all contact with and do not feed stray or free-roaming domestic animals.
- Avoid all contact with and do not feed wild animals.
- Do not feed your animals outdoors, as this will attract other animals. This is especially dangerous when feeding large numbers of free-roaming cats.
- Protect your pets by always maintaining control; walk dogs on a leash or let them play in a fenced yard, and do not let pets wander unsupervised.
- Report all animal bites to your city/town’s animal control officer.
- Securely cover all garbage cans so wild animals cannot scavenge for food.