News Release

For Immediate Release                     Contact: Sara T. Pappa, Public Information Officer

August 29, 2007                           (937) 374-5600 or toll-free at 1 (866) 858-3588

Greene County Combined Health District

Confirms Bat is Positive for Rabies

(Xenia, OH)  The Greene County Combined Health District has announced that a bat found in the Bellbrook area tested positive for rabies.  The individual who was exposed to the bat was referred to a health care provider for treatment.

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the brain and nervous system.  Rabies is spread through the saliva of a rabid animal, usually from a bite or scratch.  It can be fatal if ignored or left untreated.  People who are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal (or if infectious material (such as saliva) from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth or a wound) should seek prompt medical treatment. 

To help protect against rabies, the GCCHD offers the following recommendations:

·        Vaccinate pets

·        Do not feed or touch wild or stray animals

·        Avoid sick or strange-acting animals

·        Do not keep wild animals as pets

·        Do not touch or pick-up dead animals with bare hands

·        Leave bats alone.

For more information, contact Greene County Combined Health District, Director of Environmental Health Services, Debbie Leopold, (937) 374-5604 or toll-free at 1-866-858-3588.

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