A quiet Severn cul-de-sac got an unwelcome visitor on July 23, when a bat found on a driveway tested positive for rabies and triggered a warning from Anne Arundel County health officials. Authorities are urging anyone, or any pet, that might have tangled with the animal to call public health staff for guidance. The alert comes at the height of summer, when people, pets and wildlife are bumping into each other more than usual.
As reported by FOX45, the bat was discovered on a driveway on Bordeaux Court, and the Anne Arundel County Department of Health is asking anyone who may have been exposed to call 410-222-7254 during business hours or 443-481-3140 after hours. People who handled, fed or were attacked by the infected bat may need preventive treatment, according to the outlet.
According to the Anne Arundel County Department of Health, rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease, and bats and raccoons are the primary local reservoirs. The county’s rabies-prevention page explains how to report suspected cases and lists schedules for low-cost vaccination clinics for pets.
Why bats worry public health officials
Because bat bites can be tiny and easy to miss, public health agencies treat possible bat encounters very seriously. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that postexposure prophylaxis be considered when a bat is found in the same room as a sleeping person, an unattended child, or anyone who cannot reliably rule out a bite; see Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.
What residents should do now
County officials are urging residents to make sure pets are current on rabies vaccinations, avoid feeding or touching wildlife, secure outdoor garbage and pet food, and keep pets from running loose. If a person or pet had direct contact with the bat, officials advise washing any wound thoroughly with soap and water and seeking medical or veterinary care right away. For county guidance and reporting, residents can refer to the Anne Arundel County Department of Health’s rabies page linked above.
This latest alert follows a string of rabies notices across Anne Arundel County; Hoodline covered a rabid raccoon found near McGill Court in Pasadena earlier this month, a reminder that health officials are tracking multiple wildlife exposures this summer. Residents with questions or concerns about possible exposure can contact the county at the numbers above or visit the county’s rabies prevention page.
