Rabid Bat Found In Ann Arbor Apartment Complex
ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - A bat found dead in the bedroom of an Ann Arbor apartment complex has tested positive for rabies. That's according to the Washtenaw County Health Department.
The three people who came in contact with the bat are being advised to get rabies treatment.
WWJ spoke with Laura Bauman, Epidemiologist for the Washtenaw County Health Department, who says most importantly don't panic if you see a bat.
"If you've had any contact (with the bat) don't let it go, safely, keep it contained in the room or area, so that the bat can be tested," said Bauman.
Bauman says that if you are sure that there hasn't been any contact with the bat - to get it out of the room.
"The concern is if someone is sleeping and wakes in the middle of the night and there is a bat flying around, they may not think they've had contact but they may have been scratched or nibbled on somewhere," said Bauman.
The health department will recommend treatment for rabies in the type of cases where there is some question of contact with a bat. Treatment also might be needed if the animal can't be found but exposure is a possibility.
The regimen includes doses of immune globulin and four doses of rabies vaccine over two weeks.
This is the second bat to test positive for rabies this year in Washtenaw County.
