Minneapolis reminds community to be aware of bats as rabies risk

Minneapolis Animal Care & Control (MACC) is getting the word out about bats as a rabies risk. They are urging the community to stay aware and look to vaccinations for pets to protect from rabies, a fatal disease spread by an infected animal's bite.

"Pets are like young children. They're vulnerable and can't speak to tell us if they come close to a bat or just see it from across a room," said Tony Schendel, MACC director. "They need to be vaccinated to help prevent this horrible disease. Rabies is 100 percent fatal in pets if they're not protected."

Pet exposure to bats

MACC recommends the following steps if pets are exposed or bit:

• Regardless of vaccination status, pets should visit a regular veterinary office or community clinic for a rabies booster within 72 hours of the exposure or bite.
• There could be a time of confinement and/or quarantine. Length varies.
• MACC's policy will have the pet impounded if it is unvaccinated and exposed to a bat until the bat in question is tested and has a negative result.

"Vaccinations save lives," said Schendel. "We don't want our residents to be in a position where they have to surrender their pets or worse, say goodbye to them because they weren't vaccinated."

Low-cost vaccine appointments

MACC will start offering low-cost vaccine appointments on-site within the next few months. In the meantime, there are several clinics in the city and Twin Cities metro that can help:

• Creekview Recreation Center - Walk-up appointments are welcome at 5001 Humboldt Ave. N., Minneapolis, from 9 a.m. to noon, or as time allows, on the third Sunday of each month.
• VeTouch - Appointments only are available on the first Sunday of each month at 2501 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis. To schedule an appointment, email [email protected].

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) considers July through mid-September to be the busiest time of year for bat and human interactions, when bats seek shelter in warmer places - like people's homes - as the temperatures start to dip. MACC says it has received several reports of bats in homes every day, some of which are testing positive for rabies. Schendel says that's why it's important to report bats (bites or exposure) so MACC can safely collect them, write a report and send to the MDH for testing. The Centers for Disease Control says bats are the most commonly reported animals to carry rabies.

Steps to take if a person is exposed to or bitten by a bat

While human rabies is rare, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends people take the following steps if exposed or bitten by a bat:

• If bitten or after a low-risk exposure like waking up to a bat in your bedroom, it's usually safe to wait one to two days for bat rabies test results to come back before taking further action.
• If the bite occurred on your face or head, it may be more urgent. You should consult MDH at 651-201-5414.
• If a bat can't be tested, it's recommended you receive the rabies shots.

"Bats can fit through a hole the size of a dime, so people can help keep bats out of their homes by plugging up exterior openings, gaps around utility lines and spaces between a window and an air conditioning unit," said Carrie Klumb, senior epidemiologist and rabies surveillance coordinator with the MDH. "People can also have a bat removal specialist out to their homes to help them."

Handling and reporting bats

Schendel says safety is paramount when dealing with bats. If people find a bat, MACC urges them to safely capture it, call 911 and let the professionals collect the animals. Check out this video on how to safely capture a bat.

A bat should be tested if:

• A person has been bitten or has had any physical contact with a bat.
• A person wakes up to find a bat in the bedroom.
• A bat is in a room with a young child or person who cannot reliably report what happened.

If people have any questions about bats or need MACC's assistance, please call 612-673-6222. People can also call the Minnesota Animal Bites and Rabies Hotline at 651-201-5414 or toll free at 1-877-676-5414.

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