The control of rabies in our community is a very serious matter. The year 2000 saw an increase of 115 positive rabies cases statewide, indicating the need for vigilance in rabies control. Environmental Health Services works in conjunction with Rabies Control and Animal Shelters to enhance rabies control for the protection of Northwest Georgia's citizens. Vaccination of pets, removal and quarantine of stray animals, rabies testing of suspect animals, and education are all critical parts of a complete rabies control program.

About Rabies  |  Bats  |  Emergency Information  |  Protecting Against Rabies  |  Statistics  |  2007 Rabies Manual  |  Rabies Brochure

 
About Rabies

What Is Rabies?

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus.  The rabies virus is found in the saliva and brain tissue of infected (rabid) animals.  The rabies virus is not found in the blood, urine, or feces of animals

Rabies can be spread from animal to animal, or animal to human.  Rabies is spread when the saliva or brain tissue of an infected (rabid) animal gets in the mouth, the eyes, or an open cut.  Rabies is most often spread to animals and humans through a bite from an infected animal.

Rabies is carried mainly by wild animals like raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats.  Humans, dogs, and cats can also get rabies.  Squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, mice, and rabbits usually do not get rabies.

You could get rabies if a rabid animal bites or scratches you or if its saliva or brain tissue gets in your mouth, your eye, or an open cut.  Rabies can be prevented in humans if medical treatment is begun soon after contact with the rabies virus.  If left untreated, rabies is always deadly.

If your pet has not had its rabies shots, it could get rabies.  This is why keeping your pet's rabies shots up-to-date is important.

Rabid animals may act tame.  they may also display strange or unusual behavior.  They may act aggressive, avoid food and water, foam at the mouth, or have trouble moving.  Stay away from any unknown animals, especially wildlife.  Report any dog or animal acting unusual to your county Animal Control office.

  The Relationship Between Bats & Rabies

Most of the recent human rabies cases in the United States have been caused by rabies virus from bats. Awareness of the facts about bats and rabies can help people protect themselves, their families, and their pets. This information may also help clear up misunderstandings about bats.

When people think about bats, they often imagine things that are not true. Bats are not blind. They are neither rodents nor birds. They will not suck your blood -- and most do not have rabies. Bats play key roles in ecosystems around the globe, from rain forests to deserts, especially by eating insects, including agricultural pests. The best protection we can offer these unique mammals is to learn more about their habits and recognize the value of living safely with them.

How can I tell if a bat has rabies?

Rabies can be confirmed only in a laboratory. However, any bat that is active by day, is found in a place where bats are not usually seen (for example, in a room in your home or on the lawn), or is unable to fly, is far more likely than others to be rabid. Such bats are often the most easily approached. Therefore, it is best never to handle any bat.

What should I do if I come in contact with a bat?

If you are bitten by a bat -- or if infectious material (such as saliva) from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound -- wash the affected area thoroughly and get medical advice immediately. Whenever possible, the bat should be captured and sent to a laboratory for rabies testing.

See: How I can safely capture a bat in my home?

People usually know when they have been bitten by a bat. However, because bats have small teeth which may leave marks that are not easily seen, there are situations in which you should seek medical advice even in the absence of an obvious bite wound. For example, if you awaken and find a bat in your room, see a bat in the room of an unattended child, or see a bat near a mentally impaired or intoxicated person, seek medical advice and have the bat tested.

People cannot get rabies just from seeing a bat in an attic, in a cave, or at a distance. In addition, people cannot get rabies from having contact with bat guano (feces), blood, or urine, or from touching a bat on its fur (even though bats should never be handled!).

What should I do if my pet is exposed to a bat?

If you think your pet or domestic animal has been bitten by a bat, contact a veterinarian or your health department for assistance immediately and have the bat tested for rabies. Remember to keep vaccinations current for cats, dogs, and other animals.

Some bats live in buildings, and there may be no reason to evict them if there is little chance for contact with people. However, bats should always be prevented from entering rooms of your home. For assistance with"bat-proofing" your home, contact an animal-control or wildlife conservation agency. If you choose to do the "bat-proofing" yourself, here are some suggestions. Carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats entry into your living quarters. Any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch should be caulked. Use window screens, chimney caps, and draft-guards beneath doors to attics, fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking, and ensure that all doors to the outside close tightly.

Additional "bat-proofing" can prevent bats from roosting in attics or buildings by covering outside entry points. Observe where the bats exit at dusk and exclude them by loosely hanging clear plastic sheeting or bird netting over these areas. Bats can crawl out and leave, but cannot re-enter. After the bats have been excluded, the openings can be permanently sealed. For more information about "bat-proofing" your home, contact Bat Conservation International.

Things to remember when "bat-proofing"

• During summer, many young bats are unable to fly. If you exclude adult bats during this time, the young may be trapped inside and die or make their way into living quarters. Thus, if possible, avoid exclusion from May through August.
• Most bats leave in the fall or winter to hibernate, so these are the best times to "bat-proof" your home.
  
  

How can I safely capture a bat in my home?

If a bat is present in your home and you cannot rule out the possibility of exposure, leave the bat alone and contact an animal-control or public health agency for assistance. If professional help is unavailable, use precautions to capture the bat safely, as described below.

What you will need:

• leather work gloves (put them on)
• small box or coffee can
• piece of cardboard
• tape

When the bat lands, approach it slowly, while wearing the gloves, and place the box or coffee can over it. Slide the cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. Tape the cardboard to the container securely, and punch small holes in the cardboard, allowing the bat to breathe. Contact your health department or animal-control authority to make arrangements for rabies testing.

If you see a bat in your home and you are sure no human or pet exposure has occurred, confine the bat to a room by closing all doors and windows leading out of the room except those to the outside. The bat will probably leave soon. If not, it can be caught, as described, and released outdoors away from people and pets.

Are bats beneficial?

Yes. Worldwide, bats are a major predator of night-flying insects, including pests that cost farmers billions of dollars annually. Throughout the tropics, seed dispersal and pollination activities by bats are vital to rain forest survival. In addition, studies of bats have contributed to medical advances including the development of navigational aids for the blind. Unfortunately, many local populations of bats have been destroyed and many species are now endangered.

Where can I learn more about bats?

Contact your state or local wildlife conservation agency or Bat Conservation International:
Bat Conservation International, Inc.
P O Box 162603
Austin, Texas 78716
www.batcon.org

To learn more about endangered bats and the Endangered Species Act, contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service:
U S Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Endangered Species
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 452
Arlington, Virginia 22203
www.fws.gov

  Emergency Information

If another animal bites your pet, call the Georgia Poison Center, your county Animal Control office, or your veterinarian right away.  They will tell you what to do.

What If An Animal Bites Me?

Wash the bite area with warm, soapy water. Next, call the Georgia Poison Center or your doctor right away. They will tell you if you need medical treatment. Treatment consist of a total of six shots given over the course of one month. The shots are no more painful than any other shot. They are usually given near the area of the bite, or in the arm or the buttocks.

The Georgia Poison Center

The Georgia Poison Center (GPC) is a poison emergency and rabies treatment information service. You can call the GPC to get help in a poison emergency or to get treatment advice following an animal bite. Nurses, pharmacists, and doctor answer the phones. They can tell you what to do if you, your child, or pet is poisoned. In addition, they can tell you what steps to take following an animal bite. the GPC staff can also answer questions about poisons in your home. All emergency call to the GPC are free of charge.

How Can I Protect My Pet From Rabies?

• Keep your pet's rabies shots up-to-date.  By Georgia law, dogs, cats, and ferrets must get a rabies shot when they are 3-4 months old and every year after that.  Call your veterinarian for more details on rabies shots for you pets.
• Keep your pet in your house or yard, or on a leash at all times.  If your
  pet is free to wander around, it is more likely to get rabies.

• Make sure your pets get their rabies shots regularly.
• Keep your pets on your property.
• Do not leave garbage or pet food outside.  Food left out may attract
  wild or stray animals.
• Stay away from wild, sick, hurt, or dead animals.  Do not pick up or
  move sick or hurt animals.  If you find a wild, sick, or hurt animal, call
  your county Animal Control office.
• Do not keep wild animals like raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and
  wolves as pets.  It is dangerous and also illegal.
• Teach your children not to go near, tease, or play with wild animals
  or strange dogs and cats.