A routine day in a Haddonfield house turned into a public-health headache after a bat discovered in the attic on April 18 tested positive for rabies, Camden County health officials said. Residents managed to contain the animal, and animal control removed it before officials submitted the specimen for testing. County authorities said there were no known human exposures, but three household cats had contact with the bat and are now being closely monitored.
The Camden County Department of Health and Human Services sent the bat to the New Jersey Public Health & Environmental Laboratories in Trenton and received confirmation this week, according to CBS Philadelphia. The outlet reports the county notified the residents and animal-control personnel after the positive result came back.
Patch's Haddonfield feed notes that all three cats received rabies booster shots and will be confined and observed for 45 days under county guidance. Officials also urged pet owners to make sure animals are current on vaccinations and to seek veterinary care immediately if a wild animal bites or scratches a pet.
What Pet Owners Should Do
If you find a bat in your home or suspect someone in the house may have had contact, public-health officials say to treat the situation seriously, since bat bites can be small and easy to miss. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises contacting health authorities and seeking prompt medical evaluation; post-exposure prophylaxis is effective if started before symptoms develop. Pet owners should talk with their veterinarian about boosters, follow local quarantine instructions and report animal bites to municipal animal control.
Local Context
Public-health officials say Camden County continues to see isolated rabies cases in wildlife, a pattern that has cropped up in recent months. Coverage of a rabid skunk in Cherry Hill highlighted how quickly a single sick animal can trigger pet quarantines and public advisories. County postings note that specimens are routed to the state lab in Trenton for confirmation and that quick reporting helps limit exposure risks.
Residents with questions can call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 856-374-6370 or visit the county’s rabies-control page for upcoming vaccine clinics and reporting instructions. Local coverage also lists the New Jersey Rabies Hotline at 609-530-8416 for guidance after possible exposure.
