LAKEWOOD, Colo. — A bat in Lakewood has tested positive for rabies, according to Jefferson County Public Health.
The infected bat was found in a high-traffic area of Belmar near the 700 block of South Reed Street. It's the first bat this year to test positive for the rabies virus in JeffCo.
According to public health officials, bats that are active during the day or unable to fly should be considered possibly rabid and reported to animal control.
Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals. People can get the virus from the bite of a rabid animal.
Jefferson County Public Health offered these tips for preventing/controlling rabies:
- Avoid contact with all wild or stray animals.
- Vaccinate all cats, dogs, ferrets, and valuable livestock.
- Do not allow your pets to roam free.
- Contact animal control if you find a dead bat or skunk, if you find a bat or skunk behaving strangely or if you or your pet are bitten by any animal.
- Wear gloves to clean up your pet after a wild animal encounter.
- If bitten or scratched by a pet or wild animal, wash wounds with soap and water and call your doctor.
If you come across a bat, do not touch it, instead, call animal control at 303-271-5070 to have it safely removed.
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