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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN PALM BEACH COUNTY IDENTIFIES BAT WITH RABIES

By Alexander Shaw

September 30, 2021

Contact:

Communications Office

Chd50ContactUs@flhealth.gov

561-671-4014

 

Palm Beach County, FL- The Florida Department of Health Laboratory has confirmed that a bat in Palm Beach County has tested positive for rabies.

Animal Care & Control confirmed on September 30th that a rabid bat bit a person in the 12000 Block of Cascades Pointe Drive in Boca Raton, FL 33428. The bat was picked up by Animal Care and Control and then sent for rabies testing.

Residents in the area are cautioned to avoid contact with any wildlife including feral / community cats and report suspicious animals to Animal Care and Control.

Rabies is a disease of the nervous system and is fatal to warm blooded animals and humans if not treated. The only treatment for human exposure to rabies is rabies-specific immune globulin and rabies immunization. Appropriate treatment must be started as soon as possible after the exposure to protect an exposed person from the disease. The following advice is issued:

  • Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets.
  • Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately and contact Animal Care & Control at 561-233-1200.
  • Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your
  • Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.
  • Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or
  • Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your
  • Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
  • Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people and pets.

For further information on rabies, go to the Florida Department of Health website: https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/rabies/index.htmlor contact the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County at 561-840-4500 and ask to be transferred to the Epidemiology Section. Animals exhibiting signs of sickness and aggressive behavior should be reported to Animal Control at 561-233-1200.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

Follow DOH-Palm Beach on Twitter at @HealthyFLPBC

To learn more about DOH-Palm Beach programs, visit https://palmbeach.floridahealth.gov/.

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