Although bats may be helpful to humans by consuming insects such as mosquitoes, they also pose the greatest risk of rabies transmission to Hoosiers and this is typically a peak time of year for encounters with the winged creatures. Already this year, 22 bats have tested positive for rabies in Indiana, including 5 in Allen County. In 2008, there was 11 in Indiana and one in Allen County.

A bat that is active during the day, is unable to fly, or is found in a place where bats are not usually seen -- such as a room in your home -- is more likely to be rabid.
 
"Rabies is endemic in bats and finding more positives at this time of year does not mean our city has an unusual problem," says Belinda Lewis, Director of Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control. "When these encounters do occur, however, the bat should be safely captured and preserved for testing and the person should seek immediate medical attention if bitten."

Rabies is a disease that affects the central nervous system. The rabies virus is carried in the saliva of infected animals and is usually transmitted to people and other animals when they are bitten or scratched by the rabid animal. If left untreated, rabies is fatal to humans and animals.

Because a person can be bitten without knowing it, persons exposed to bats may be given the rabies vaccine as a precaution. In many cases, however, treatment is unnecessary if the bat can be safely captured and found to be rabies-free. Recent cases of rabies in humans in the U.S. have been due to bat bites that were not recognized or reported.

"Bats have very small teeth and their bite marks can disappear very quickly," says Dr. Deborah McMahan, Allen County Health Commissioner.  "If you awake and find a bat in your room, contact your family doctor as you might not have felt the bite while you were sleeping.  Through good education and prevention, we can prevent most cases of human rabies."

More information can be found at www.allencountyhealth.com or www.fwacc.org, or by calling (260) 427-1244.