Holy pandemic, Batman! Protect your family and your pets from exposure to rabid bats- infection is up more than 50% in 2018.

I don't care how you feel about Batman but the real thing is creepy. Icky. Bats are prevalent in Michigan and so, this year, is a rabies infestation.Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has identified rabies in 22 bats and two skunks so far this season. Last year at this time, MDHHS had identified only nine bats with rabies. All told in 2017, "there were 38 cases of rabies in animals in Michigan, including 35 bats, two skunks and one cat-" we are on pace to beat that record.

MDHHS goes on to explain, "people or pets usually get exposed to rabies when they are bitten by an infected animal. Other situations that may present a risk are when a bat is found in a room with people who have been asleep, or a bat is found with an unattended child or impaired adult who cannot be sure they didn’t have contact with the bat. In these cases, it is important to collect the bat for rabies testing.

Rabies is fatal to humans. Post exposure treatment is given to people who are exposed to a potentially rabid animal. Treatment is not necessary if the animal tests negative for rabies.

Protect your family and pets from rabies by taking these simple steps:

  • Avoid contact with wild animals. Do not keep wild animals as pets and do not try to rehabilitate wild animals yourself. Wild animals can carry rabies without looking sick.  
  • If a wild animal appears sick, report it to the Department of Natural Resources online or at 517-336-5030.
  • If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, seek immediate medical attention and alert the local health department. A directory of local public health departments is available at Malph.org.
  • If you find a bat in your home, safely confine or collect the bat if possible and contact your local health department to determine if it should be tested for rabies. More information on how to collect a bat safely can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
  • If you are unable or would prefer not to confine or collect a bat yourself, you may consider hiring a bat/wildlife removal service.
  • Protect your pets by getting them vaccinated against rabies. Even cats that live indoors and never go outside can encounter a bat that gets inside the home.
  • If your animal is bitten or scratched by a wild animal, or if you believe they have had unsupervised contact with wildlife, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Even if your pet is currently vaccinated against rabies, additional actions may need to be taken to prevent them from becoming infected. If possible, safely confine or capture the wild animal without touching it and contact your local animal control officer or veterinarian, as the animal may need to be tested for rabies."

Bonus Video: Kalamazoo Magician Alan Kazam

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