A rabid bat turned up outside Bradford Place Care Center in Hamilton on Friday, triggering a public health alert as officials scrambled to figure out who might have come into contact with it, according to city officials.
In a city news release reported by FOX19, the bat was collected in the 1300 block of Millville Avenue near the Bradford Place campus and later tested positive for rabies. Hamilton’s health department is working with the facility to assess any possible exposures and protect residents, staff, and visitors. The release noted there were no immediately identified human or pet exposures. Bradford Place operates as a long-term care facility along that stretch of Millville Avenue.
Why this matters
Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and is almost always fatal. Once clinical symptoms appear, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The CDC notes that bats are the leading source of rabies deaths in people in the United States and that bites or scratches can be so small they go unnoticed, which is why any possible exposure needs quick evaluation. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which includes a rabies vaccine and, in some cases, rabies immune globulin, is effective if given before symptoms begin.
What residents and pet owners should do
Hamilton officials are urging residents not to handle wild animals, to keep pets current on rabies vaccinations, and to contact local public-health authorities if they or their animals may have had contact with the bat, according to FOX19. Nearby counties have reported rabid bats this month as well. For example, the Warren County Health District confirmed a positive bat earlier this week, underscoring that bat-strain rabies remains present in the region. Anyone who thinks they were exposed should call their doctor or local health department right away to discuss testing and possible PEP.
