Cincinnati health officials investigated 14 bat complaints this month: What precautions to know
The Cincinnati Health Department is reminding residents of precautions to take after seeing an increase in bat complaints.In August, the Cincinnati Health Department investigated 14 bat complaints. It was an increase over previous months when the CHD investigated three complaints in January, two in March, one in April, two in May, five in June, and four in July.The increase isn’t unusual, but health officials want residents to know the precautions to take after being in contact with a bat.Health officials said all the positive cases for rabies in Cincinnati have been found in bats, but other wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons and foxes, can carry the rabies virus.Health officials said while the number of reports they’re getting is low, they want to remind residents of the importance of being aware of the dangers and what steps to take in case of suspected exposure. “It is important to stress that human rabies in the United States is extremely rare, with only one to three cases reported each year,” Grant Mussman, M.D., MHSA, Cincinnati Health Department Commissioner, said in a statement. “However, once the rabies symptoms appear, the mortality rate is very high at more than 99%. Therefore, it is critical to seek medical attention after a potential rabies exposure.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the following facts regarding bats and rabies:· Bats are one of the most commonly reported rabid animals in the United States.· Bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in people in the United States.· If you find a bat in your home, try to capture it for testing. By testing the bat for rabies, you can find out if you need to receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).· Bat bites can be very small. If you’ve been in contact with a bat — even if you aren’t sure you’ve been bitten or scratched — talk to a health care or public health professional about your risk and whether or not you need to receive PEP.Between 2018 and 2022, about 2,320 animal bites were reported to CHD, including 513 in 2022. These bite events included dogs, cats, bats, rodents, and livestock, such as goats, cows and horses. Each animal bite reported to CHD is considered for its potential exposure to rabies.For more information about bats and rabies, visit the CHD website, the Ohio Department of Health website or the CDC website.
The Cincinnati Health Department is reminding residents of precautions to take after seeing an increase in bat complaints.
In August, the Cincinnati Health Department investigated 14 bat complaints. It was an increase over previous months when the CHD investigated three complaints in January, two in March, one in April, two in May, five in June, and four in July.
The increase isn’t unusual, but health officials want residents to know the precautions to take after being in contact with a bat.
Health officials said all the positive cases for rabies in Cincinnati have been found in bats, but other wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons and foxes, can carry the rabies virus.
Health officials said while the number of reports they’re getting is low, they want to remind residents of the importance of being aware of the dangers and what steps to take in case of suspected exposure.
“It is important to stress that human rabies in the United States is extremely rare, with only one to three cases reported each year,” Grant Mussman, M.D., MHSA, Cincinnati Health Department Commissioner, said in a statement. “However, once the rabies symptoms appear, the mortality rate is very high at more than 99%. Therefore, it is critical to seek medical attention after a potential rabies exposure.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the following facts regarding bats and rabies:
· Bats are one of the most commonly reported rabid animals in the United States.
· Bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in people in the United States.
· If you find a bat in your home, try to capture it for testing. By testing the bat for rabies, you can find out if you need to receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
· Bat bites can be very small. If you’ve been in contact with a bat — even if you aren’t sure you’ve been bitten or scratched — talk to a health care or public health professional about your risk and whether or not you need to receive PEP.
Between 2018 and 2022, about 2,320 animal bites were reported to CHD, including 513 in 2022. These bite events included dogs, cats, bats, rodents, and livestock, such as goats, cows and horses. Each animal bite reported to CHD is considered for its potential exposure to rabies.
For more information about bats and rabies, visit the CHD website, the Ohio Department of Health website or the CDC website.
