The Oswego County Health Department continues its education campaign to warn residents about the dangers of rabies.

“Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system,” said Oswego County Public Health Director Vera Dunsmoor. “People usually get exposed to the rabies virus when an infected animal bites them. Exposure may also occur if saliva from a rabid animal enters an open cut or mucous membrane, such as the eyes, nose or mouth.”

Rabies is most often seen among wild animals like raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes; however, any mammal can be infected with rabies.

“People can be bitten by a bat and not know it,” said Oswego County Director of Environmental Health Katelyn Parkhurst. “Most types of bats have very small teeth which may leave marks that disappear quickly. If a bat is found indoors and there is any chance it may have come in contact with a person or a pet, it’s very important not to release it.”

She added, “If you woke up because a bat landed on you while you were sleeping or if you woke up and found a bat in your room, you should try to safely capture the bat and have it tested. The same precautions should be used if you see a bat in a room with an unattended child or someone with a mental impairment.”

Although any mammal can pose a potential threat for rabies, bats tend to pose a larger threat because it can be difficult to confirm if a person has had contact with a bat.

Oswego County Health Department offers this advice:

• Call the Oswego County Health Department anytime you see a bat in your home. Health Department staff are available by calling 315-349-3557 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 315-341-0086, evenings and weekends.
• Contain a bat in a room by closing all windows and closet doors.
• Capture bats using gloves and a coffee can or similar container. Store the can in a freezer until you can submit it to the Oswego County Health Department for rabies testing.

“It’s also important to take preventative measures to protect our pets from potential exposure to the rabies virus,” said Oswego County Public Health Sanitarian Chris Williams. “They are usually the barrier between us and wildlife, so keeping their vaccinations current not only protects them, but also you and your family.”

Every year, the Oswego County Health Department schedules several rabies vaccination clinics for pets. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 315-349-3564 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, including the full clinic schedule, go to https://health.oswegocounty.com/programs/environmental1/rabies_program2.php.

For more information about rabies or bats call the Oswego County Health Department at 315-349-3557. Go to https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/ for more information about rabies including a video on how to safely catch a bat.