ELLINGTON – The Chautauqua County Department of Health has received notification of this year’s first confirmed positive rabies case in the Town of Ellington.
The case involved an individual awaking to a bat flying around the room. Because rabies almost always leads to death without prompt treatment, rabies prevention shots were ordered due to the potential of bare skin contact with the saliva of the rabid bat.
Bats infected with rabies quickly show signs. Avoid contact with any bat but especially one that is outdoors during daylight, on the ground, or paralyzed.
Bats rarely attack humans; however, any physical contact with a rabid bat may transmit the disease. If there is any chance that contact with a bat occurred to a person or pet or you’re not sure if contact occurred, capture the bat without touching it and immediately call the Chautauqua County Health Department at 1-866-604-6789.
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