Orange County has received its first positive rabies case of 2021 after Chapel Hill residents caught a bat in their home.

The incident occurred on Saturday, March 20, when the residents discovered a bat flying around in their home. According to a report, they were able to secure the bat without any direct contact. Animal control then arrived and removed the bat for rabies testing.

The positive case of rabies in the bat was confirmed by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. Orange County reported eight positive cases in 2020 and six in 2019.

No people or pets had any known direct contact with the bat. The Orange County Health Department has been in contact with the Chapel Hill residents to evaluate the risk of possible rabies exposure.

When there is “a reasonable suspicion of exposure,” a dog, cat, or ferret with a valid vaccination history must receive a booster rabies vaccination within 96 hours (4 days).  By contrast, an unvaccinated cat or dog must either be destroyed or quarantined for a period up to four (4) months (or six (6) months for a ferret).

Bats are a host species of rabies in North Carolina. According to a report from Orange County, the few cases of rabies in humans in the United States in recent years have mostly been traced to bats.

If there is any possibility of exposure from a bat, it is critical that citizens immediately contact their animal control program. If an incident involving a bat – or other rabies vector, such as a raccoon or skunk – should occur outside regular hours of service, an Animal Control Officer should be reached right away through Emergency Communications (9-1-1).

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