The big brown bat is native to Michigan (Photo: Ivan Kuzmin, Getty Images / iStockphoto)

State Health officials have found nearly two and a half times more rabid bats this year than in 2017 and urge families to take precautions for themselves and their pets.

Rabies is a mammalian viral disease transmitted by bite Bats and skunks are the most common carriers of the disease in Michigan The Michigan Department of Health and Social Services Laboratory Bureau has identified rabies in 22 bats and two skunks on June 28th. "Rabies is deadly to humans, so we want people to realize that it is very serious," said health department spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin. "Avoid contact with wild animals as much as possible and have your animals vaccinated against rabies."

Most confirmed infected bats come from the Detroit and Lansing areas, but infected bats found this year Lower Peninsula, "said veterinarian Dan O. Brien of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources . The two infected skunks came from Oakland County, he said.

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Public servants still can not tell if the increase in discoveries of infected animals means a greater prevalence of the disease According to the MNR, the Early symptoms of rabies in people can look like other diseases: fever, headache, general weakness and discomfort that may include: a tingling sensation or itching at the site of a bite. These symptoms can last for several days.

Over time, symptoms more specific to brain dysfunction appear and may include sleep disturbances, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, partial paralysis, difficulty swallowing and hydrophobia. Once these symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. To date, only 13 cases of rabies survivors have been reported worldwide and only two of them have ever been treated for rabies.

People or pets are exposed to rabies. Other situations that may pose a risk include the presence of a bat in a room with people who do not know if they came in contact with it, for example sleeping people, unattended children or drunk adults. In these cases, it is important to collect the bat for rabies testing, if possible, health authorities said.

Animal testing can be done by the health department seven days a week. . If an animal proves to be rabies positive, anyone bitten or scratched will be shot at in an attempt to prevent it from contracting the disease.

"It's not as heavy as it used to be, but it's still not pleasant." Brien says, "Bats are particularly active during the warmer months of time, and it's not uncommon for them to sneak up near people's heads on the summer evenings, while they're looking for insects in the sky. The health department receives for testing "animals that have been returned due to suspicious behavior", having bitten or scratched a person or pet, or "simply acting erratically, not typical of the behavior animal". recommended special precautions:

If you find a bat in your house, confine it safely if possible and contact your local health department to determine if it should be tested for rabies. To catch a bat, wear leather gloves and find a small container such as a box or large box. When the bat lands, bring it slowly and place the container over it. Then slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside

Pierce the small air holes in the cardboard so that the bat can breathe.

More information on the safe collection of a bat Website on the control and prevention of diseases. Those who prefer not to try to capture the bat themselves can contact a bat and wild animal elimination service.

Protect your pets by having them vaccinated against rabies. If your pet is bitten or scratched by a wild animal, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Contact Keith Matheny: 313-222-5021 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @keithmatheny.

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