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Published on May 30, 2024 • 2-minute read
File photo of a bat. Photo courtesy of Postmedia Network.
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While bats may be effective pest control, the Tri-County Health Department is warning the public about the possibility that bats can spread rabies.
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Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit says many bats that come into homes are healthy and just looking for a way to get out, but some carry diseases such as rabies that can be transmitted to humans and animals.
Bats can eat up to three times their body weight in insects in one night, but weather conditions this spring have led to increased mosquito populations, leading more bats to hunt them for food, officials said.
“While this is good news in reducing mosquito populations, it is important to be aware that bats can carry the rabies virus,” health officials said in a press release on Wednesday.
“The most common sign of rabies in bats is an inability to fly and resting in unusual places, such as the ground or floor.”
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Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system and is found in the saliva of infected animals, the researchers added.
“Rabies is fatal if left untreated,” they said.
If bats carry the rabies virus, humans and animals are at risk of infection through direct contact with the bat, a bite or scratch, or through saliva getting into a wound or mucous membrane.
“If you are bitten by a bat or if the bat's saliva gets into your eyes, nose, mouth or a wound, wash the area thoroughly and seek medical attention immediately,” officials warned.
If the bat carcass can be stored safely, the health department can arrange for it to be tested for rabies.
In children, direct contact with a bat, including a bat landing on the child's body or touching the child through clothing, may be considered a reason for rabies vaccination because children “may not be able to reliably describe an encounter with a bat and determine the type of contact.”
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They can also transmit histoplasmosis, a disease caused by a fungus that grows in soil contaminated with bat and bird droppings. The disease primarily affects the lungs and can be fatal if left untreated.
“When cleaning areas where bat droppings have accumulated, be sure to wear a protective mask and gloves and keep dust to a minimum,” officials warned.
Officials also said it was important to take steps to prevent bats entering homes, and suggested contacting pest control companies or wildlife conservation organisations for help.
“If you find a bat inside your home and it hasn't had contact with humans or animals, it's OK to release the bat outside. When handling the bat, wear thick gloves to prevent being bitten.”
Rabies can also be transmitted to pets, officials warned, and to protect pets against the disease, they said it's important to vaccinate them, which is mandatory for cats and dogs in Ontario.
Anyone who may have encountered or been bitten by a bat should contact 1-800-660-5853, or 613-345-5685 on weekends, to be examined by a medical provider.
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