Louisville City Wire

The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) is looking for the restaurant customer who came into contact with a bat at Railyard Billiards & Sports Pub, 630 Barret Ave., between the hours of 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. on June 17.

The person who had an encounter with the bat is asked to call 502-574-5745.

The rabies virus infects the central nervous system. Without appropriate medical care, it can cause disease in the brain which can result in death. Preventative care after rabies exposure consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin and the rabies vaccine series. Treatment is recommended for both bite and non-bite exposures. Once rabies symptoms begin, there is no treatment, in which case the disease is fatal.

So far this year, no bats have tested positive for rabies in the Louisville Metro area. However, last year, three bats tested positive for the virus in Jefferson County.

“People should always take precautions if they encounter a bat. The first step is to never touch one,” said Connie Mendel, chief health strategist for Louisville Metro. “Transmission of rabies can occur through a bat’s bite or the animal’s saliva if it gets in a person’s eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound. Additionally, someone may not realize they have been bitten by a bat because they have very sharp, tiny teeth.”

Rabies can spread to people and pets if they are bitten or scratched by a rabid animal. In the United States, rabies is mostly found in wild animals including bats, skunks, racoons and foxes. Bats are the leading cause of rabies in the U.S. In Kentucky, bats and skunks are the most common hosts of rabies.

Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating pets, avoiding wildlife, and seeking medical care immediately for potential exposure. If you encounter a bat in your home: 

• If possible, close the door to isolate the bat in the room. 
• Contact your doctor and LMPHW at 502-574-6650 right away. The health department will arrange for the bat to be collected and tested for rabies. 
• If you know you have been bitten or scratched by a bat:
  • Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately.
  • If the bat tests negative for rabies, you will not need postexposure treatment.
• If you do not know how the bat got into your home, you will also need to contact a bat remediation specialist to determine if bats are living in your home. 

If your pet encounters a bat: 

• Contact LMPHW at 502-574-6650 or email publicfacilities@louisvilleky.gov. Your pet may need to be quarantined to ensure rabies is not transmitted. Please advise the health department if you choose to have your pet quarantined at another location besides your home. 
• If your pet bites or scratches someone during a rabies exposure quarantine, you must report the incident to us at LMPHW.

If you have general questions regarding bats or rabies, contact the LMPHW Rabies Prevention Program at 502-574-6640.  For more information about rabies and prevention tips, visit our rabies control page. 

Original source can be found here.