Tuesday, August 31, 1999
Rabid bat found in pet hospital
Case prompts reminder to vaccinate
BY TOM O'NEILL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BATAVIA — The discovery of a dead, rabid bat in a kennel at the Clermont County Animal Hospital prompted health officials Monday to remind residents to get their pets vaccinated.
The bat, which tested positive for rabies on Friday at the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus, is the first known case of animal rabies in Clermont County in 25 years.
Jill Abney, a worker at the animal hospital on Old State Route 74, came in contact with the dead bat. Although the risk of exposure was extremely small, she will have to have three injections, in each hip and in one arm, that will kill the virus. She remains on the job.
Two cats that live at the hospital and are used as blood donors might have brought the bat into the building. They are being quarantined for 45 days.
Butler County has had three confirmed cases of bat rabies and Hamilton County, one. Rabies is contained in saliva and is typically transmitted through a bite. It can be fatal.
“Really, there's not any reason for the public to be overly concerned, but they should be aware and should get any pets vaccinated if they aren't,” Julie Stricker, a veterinary aide at the hospital, said Monday.
About 5 percent of all bats are rabid, said Rob Perry, Clermont County's director of environmental health, but bats are so adept at avoiding humans there are only about five human deaths from rabies annually in the United States.
Bat rabies is transmitted to humans primarily through pets.
“So proper vaccination is the safeguard,” Mr. Perry said.
It's unclear exactly how the bat — either dead or dying — got into a kennel room at the animal hospital. Ms. Stricker said it could have been brought in by one of the cats. She added it's unlikely a rabid bat, which could have been partially paralyzed from the disease, could have flown into and out of a cage in which other pets were kept.
In cats or dogs, the symptoms include foaming at the mouth because the throat becomes paralyzed, aggression and other behavior changes. Quarantine is usually for six months.
Pet rabies vaccinations range from about $8 to $20.
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