Health officials warn community of rabies risk after unusual spike
Five bats have tested positive for rabies since June — far above the typical annual count
CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio (WOIO) - Cuyahoga County Board of Health has issued a warning after increased reports of bats carrying rabies.
Cuyahoga County Board of Health, known as CCBH, said five bats have tested positive for rabies in the past two months.
Matt Johnson, the county’s director of environmental health, said the spike is significant.
“At this point normally, we’d see 1 or 2 bats that are positive for rabies — we’ve seen 5 so far this year,” Johnson said.
Johnson said one in five bats are thought to carry rabies, a virus that is almost always fatal without treatment. Of the five rabid bats found this year, at least one person has already been recommended for the rabies prevention vaccine series.
What counts as an exposure
Health officials want residents to understand what qualifies as a potential exposure. Johnson said a bat does not need to make direct contact for concern to be warranted.
“If they are in your bedroom in the morning when you wake up, or you think your child was exposed, or there was a bat in the crib where your baby is sleeping, those are the kinds of things we want to hear about,” Johnson said.
According to the public health reminder, an exposure can include a bite, scratch or any of the following:
- Come into direct skin contact with a bat.
- Wakes up to a bat in the room.
- A bat is found in a room with an unattended child.
- A bat is found in a room with a person that is unable to reliably communicate if an exposure has occurred.
- A pet has direct contact with a bat.
What to do if you find a bat
If a bite or scratch occurs, health officials say to call the Board of Health first — before releasing or disposing of the bat.
“We want to make sure and help determine whether an exposure happened, if there is a need to test the bat, or to recommend that they see a doctor for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis,” Johnson said.
If testing is recommended, residents should contact a professional or follow these steps to safely contain the bat:
- Close all doors and windows and turn on lights.
- Wait for bat to land.
- Wear protective gloves and place a container over the bat.
- Slide either a lid or cardboard under the container and seal it with tape.
If the bat is dead, CCBH says to place the container with the bat inside of a refrigerator or cooler with ice.
Cuyahoga County Board of Health has stressed the importance of avoiding all contact with bats. If no exposure has occurred, safely release the bat by turning on all lights, close interior doors, open all exterior doors and windows and watch for the bat to leave.
‘No need to panic’
Johnson said the goal is awareness, not alarm.
“We’re not looking for panic — we’re looking for people just to be aware that if a wild bat were to bite you or you suspect it, that you are letting us know and you are taking it seriously,” Johnson said.
The Board of Health also reminded pet owners to ensure their animals are vaccinated against rabies.
Anyone who has located and contained a bat, or has questions about a potential exposure, can call the Cuyahoga County Board of Health at 216-201-2000.
If you have located and contained a bat, or have any questions, call Cuyahoga County Board of Health at 216-201-2000.
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