HORNEPAYNE — As colder weather approaches, the Porcupine Health Unit is reminding residents to avoid bats, wildlife and unfamiliar animals that can carry rabies.
The health unit said if left untreated, rabies can lead to death. The virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually entering through a bite or more rarely a scratch.
“To reduce the risk of infection and avoid getting rabies yourself, leave unfamiliar animals alone and report incidents of animal contact with humans to the health unit as soon as possible,” said Suzanne Lajoie, the health unit's manager of environmental health. “Pet owners need to ensure that their dogs and cats are vaccinated against rabies and re-vaccinate them according to your veterinarian’s directions. It’s the best way to protect your pets against rabies.”
The health unit said it's not always possibly to identify whether a bat or other animals have rabies without testing, but rabid bats commonly lose their ability to fly or do not fly well. Other signs that a bat may be rabid include wandering around in the daylight, crawling on the ground or otherwise acting strangely.”
The bats should never be touched as they have a sharp needle-like teeth that may cause a painless, unnoticeable bite. If bitten or scratched by a bat, people are urged to wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and consult a health care provider.
