Rabies reported in bat in Allegan County; 2nd case this year

ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Allegan County Health Department confirmed on Friday, October 21 an animal rabies case in a bat in Allegan County.

Officials say this is the second rabies case verified in a bat in Allegan County this year.

The ACHD reminds community members about the importance of vaccinating their household pets and bat-proofing their homes and offer these tips:

• Carefully examine the home for holes that might allow bats entry into living quarters.  Caulk any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch. Use window screens, chimney caps, and draft guards beneath doors to attics, fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking, and ensure that all doors to the outside close tightly.
• Prevent bats from roosting in attics or buildings by covering outside entry points. Find where the bats exit at dusk and keep them from coming back by loosely hanging clear plastic sheeting or bird netting over these areas. Bats can crawl out and leave, but cannot re-enter. When all the bats are gone, the openings can be permanently sealed.
• Install a chimney cap to prevent animals from living in your home.
• Call local Animal Removal Services if there is a bat in the home, and visit Avoid risk of rabies from bats | Rabies | CDC.

The rabies virus, most often found in bats, is in the saliva of infected animals and is spread through bites or scratches. There are simple steps everyone can take to protect themselves from rabies:

• Have pets vaccinated regularly. This will protect them if exposed to animals with the disease and prevent them from becoming ill and infecting humans.
• Do not handle stray, wild, or dead animals.
• Keep pets indoors or supervised to limit their exposure to wild animals that may be rabid.
• Do not feed, or put water for, pets outside.
• Keep garbage securely covered, as these items may attract wild or stray animals.

For more information on rabies, visit https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/ or https://www.michigan.gov/rabies.

Learn more about ACHD services at www.allegancounty.org/health.