A bat discovered close to Arvada’s Westlake neighborhood has examined constructive for rabies, turning into Jefferson County’s first confirmed case of the virus this yr, in accordance with a county information launch.
The rabies virus can infect any mammal, together with people however is most frequently seen in wild animals reminiscent of bats and skunks. As soon as signs seem, infections are nearly all the time deadly.
Anybody who has had contact with a wild or stray animal ought to contact their well being care supplier and native animal management company instantly to entry post-exposure care and stop the unfold of the virus.
“Rabies stays a danger in our neighborhood, particularly in the course of the hotter months, when wild animals are extra energetic,” Rachel Reichardt of Jefferson County Public Well being mentioned within the launch.
“Residents ought to keep away from contact with wildlife, guarantee pets are updated on their rabies vaccinations and report any animal appearing unusually to your native animal management company.”
5 Jefferson County animals examined constructive for the virus final yr, in accordance with the well being division. Final week, public well being officers introduced {that a} bat discovered inside a Boulder dwelling was confirmed rabid and had contact with not less than one canine.
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