LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — A bat found in a Lexington neighborhood between Lafayette High School and Kroger Field has reportedly tested positive for rabies.
Just after 10 a.m. on April 7, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department (LFCHD) announced that a bat, found in the basement of a home in the Seven Parks area, tested positive for the viral disease. Placards are being posted near the site where the animal was found.
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Health department officials wrote that a resident bitten by the rabid bat was contacted for “appropriate follow-up care.” While it can be deadly, rabies is preventable by vaccination.
“Residents who believe they or their pets may have had contact with any animal acting abnormally are urged to contact the health department immediately,” public health officials in Lexington said.
Lexington health experts on how to avoid rabies
The LFCHD encouraged Lexington residents to take the following steps to prevent a rabies infection:
- Keep pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations, and vaccinate immediately if a pet hasn’t had one previously.
- Do not handle, feed, or approach wild animals or any animal behaving abnormally.
- If a bat is found inside your home, do not release it — contain it if possible and contact the health department.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you believe you or someone you know has been exposed.
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Potential rabies exposures can be reported to the Division of Environmental Health at (859) 231-9791…