Two bats found on the north side of downtown Georgetown tested positive for rabies this week, according to a news release from city officials today.
The bats were collected by Georgetown Animal Services on Sept. 7 and 9 and were sent to the
Texas Department of State Health Services lab in Austin for testing.
According to the release, officials do not believe the bats were exposed to any people.
What to know about rabies:
- Rabies is transmitted through saliva, and humans can be infected by being bitten or by getting saliva in their eyes and nose as well as in open cuts on their skin, according to the TDSHS.
- Signs of rabies include:
- Animals with a change in behavior
- Wild animals that seem to be friendly or tame
- Seeing animals, such as coyotes, foxes, bats, skunks and raccoons, normally not seen in the daytime
- Animals that have a hard time walking, flying, eating or drinking
- Excitement or meanness in animals
- Animals biting or scratching at old wounds until they bleed
- According to TDSHS, the spread of rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, avoiding contact with wild animals, not approaching strange animals, restraining pets from roaming, and not touching sick or injured animals.
- If a person is bitten, TDSHS recommends the person:
- Thoroughly wash the bite with soap and water, and administer antiseptic to the bite
- See a doctor as soon as possible
- Notify animal control and describe the animal that bit you, including size, color and species, as well as where the incident happened
“Not all sick bats have rabies and not all rabid bats appear sick,” said Kelly Thyssen, animal control officer with the Georgetown Police Department, in a statement. “If you find a bat—especially if it is inside your home, in an area that a child has access to, in a room with a sleeping person or if your pet potentially had contact with it—please call us.”
To report animals that may have rabies, call the GPD 24-hour number for animal control at 512-930-3510.
