Rabid bat found in northeast Portland; first in 7 years



[ad_1]

A rabid bat was discovered in northeast Portland on Wednesday, marking the first time an animal has tested positive for the disease in Multnomah County since 2014, county officials have said.

The bat was discovered in a yard in the Grant Park neighborhood on Saturday after a dog was found playing with it, according to a county spokesperson. The dog has received its rabies vaccine, received a booster and will be in quarantine for 45 days, the county said.

“Rabies is a fatal disease. Fortunately, this is rare due to the requirement for pets to be up to date on the rabies vaccine, ”said Lisa Ferguson, Multnomah County Communicable Disease Control Services Manager, in a statement. “Please make sure your pets are up to date with their vaccines so they are protected.”

Another rabid bat was found in Beaverton on Friday, Washington County officials said on Wednesday. The bat was euthanized, although it may have come into contact with some pets, officials said.

No human appears to have been exposed to the disease in either case.

Rabies attacks the nervous system of infected mammals and symptoms can include lethargy, aggression, irritability, seizures and loss of coordination. The disease is rare in Oregon with only 10 other animals testing positive for the disease so far this year, none of them in the Portland metro area.

Bats typically hunt at night, so seeing one during the day could be of concern, county officials said. Sick bats can also appear sedentary or collapse on the ground.

Experts strongly advise against trying to handle a bat. If the animal appears sick, children and pets should be taken inside. If the animal is suspected of biting a person or a pet, it should be tested for rabies.

Bats, whether alive or dead, should never be handled without proper protection.

The best course of action is to contact Multnomah County Animal Services at 503-988-7387 or Washington County Public Health at 503-846-3594.

“If you see a bat, avoid it,” Ferguson said. “If you think you’ve been bitten, scratched, or are concerned about contact with a bat, report it because you may need rabies shots just in time. “

county Officials also reminded the public that bats are valuable members of the ecosystem and that much of their diet consists of mosquitoes.

– Kale Williams; [email protected]; 503-294-4048; @sfkale

[ad_2]

Source link