Residents warned about bats with rabies

Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004 | 8:51 a.m.

A family in the upscale Anthem development off Eastern Avenue noticed one of their dogs playing with a bat, Henderson Animal Care and Control Facility veterinarian Gary Weddle said. The other bat was discovered on the ground in the same area.

Both bats tested last week at the state laboratory in Reno proved positive for rabies.

Both dogs had been vaccinated for rabies in February, Weddle said, "which means this is no big deal."

The pets received booster shots and will be confined to their home for 45 days, Weddle said. Rabies vaccinations last three years in adult dogs and one year in puppies.

"This could have been a whole different scenario if the dogs had not been vaccinated," Weddle said.

Unless infected with rabies, it's rare for a bat to come in contact with a human or other mammal, Weddle said.

A bat with rabies lying on the ground can be intriguing to a curious child, so kids should be told to stay away if they see bats in the daytime. A bat that is on the ground during the day and out in the open should be considered at risk for rabies.

Rabies is transmitted when an infected animal's saliva enters the body of another animal or human through a bite or a scratch.

The Clark County Health District has been notified of the rabid bats, spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore said.

"Rabies in bats is an ongoing problem in Clark County," Sizemore said.

Four years ago three people, two cats and a dog were exposed to rabies through infected bats in Southern Nevada. Two of the humans exposed lived in Clark County and the third in Nye County. All of the people underwent treatment.

The Health District has guidelines to avoid exposure to rabid bats.

First, never approach a bat, Sizemore said. If a bat is flying erratically during the day or inside a structure, it is probably sick. Animal control officials should be notified immediately if any person is bitten or scratched by a bat.

People should never attempt to capture, handle or kill a bat.

Most important, pet owners need to make sure their animals are immunized on a routine basis, Sizemore said. By law, all dogs, cats and ferrets must be immunized against rabies every two or three years, depending on the type of vaccine.

In the case of unimmunized cats, the animals have to be quarantined six months at an animal shelter or veterinary center after exposure.