Bat tested positive for rabies in Shawnee County after dog pulled it out of a tree

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TOPEKA, Kansas (WIBW) – A bat that was sent for testing has come back positive for rabies in Shawnee County, officials said Wednesday morning.

As a result, the Shawnee County Health Department encourages area residents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of rabies and what to do if exposure is suspected.

Craig Barnes, of the Shawnee County Health Department, said the bat tested positive for rabies was pulled from a tree by a dog.

Barnes said no precautionary measures were being taken at this time except for a 50-day observation and surveillance period for the dog that found the bat.

Barnes said “no human contact would have taken place.”

In a press release, Barnes said rabies is a deadly but preventable viral disease that is commonly transmitted by raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes.

The first symptoms of rabies include general weakness or discomfort and fever or headache.

Symptoms can last for days, Barnes said.

Discomfort or itching at the bite site – progressing over a few days to symptoms of brain dysfunction, anxiety, confusion and restlessness – can develop, Barnes said.

The progression of the disease can lead to delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations and insomnia. Once a person begins to show signs of illness, Barnes said, survival is rare.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has provided the following tips to help prevent rabies:

Have your veterinarian vaccinate all valuable dogs, cats, ferrets, horses and breeders and expose animals – such as cattle and sheep – to rabies.
In case of an animal bite, see a doctor and immediately report the bite to your local public health department or animal control department.
If your pet is bitten, contact your veterinarian or local health department for advice.
If you wake up in a room with a bat, even if there is no sign of a bite or scratch, see a doctor.
Do not handle or feed wild animals. Never adopt wild animals and never bring them into your home.
Do not try to treat sick wild animals. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for help.
Teach children never to handle unfamiliar, wild, or domestic animals, no matter how friendly they seem.

The rabies vaccination is a series of four injections over a 14-day period, Barnes said.

The first injection should be given by a primary care office or emergency room, known as “day zero”.

The remainder of the series can be obtained from the Shawnee County Health Department Immunization Service at 2115 SW 10th Ave.

The injections are received on “day zero”, as well as on the third, seventh and 14th days.

For more information, call the Shawnee County Immunization Department at 785-251-5700.

For more details on rabies, visit these exposure and prevention links from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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