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The Oneida County Health Department is alerting Rome residents after a bat tested positive for rabies, with two people recently exposed to the animal. The bat was sent for testing at the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center on Tuesday (April 14), and the positive rabies result was confirmed on Friday (April 17), according to the Rome Sentinel.
Both individuals who came into contact with the bat are receiving post-exposure rabies treatment and are expected to be fine. The exact location of the incident has not been released by health officials. The Department advises the public to watch for signs of rabies in animals, which include unusual behavior, aggression or shyness, and drooling or foaming at the mouth.
As reported by AOL News, the Health Department urges people to avoid contact with wild or stray animals and to seek medical help immediately if bitten or exposed to saliva. Residents are encouraged to contact their local animal control officer if they see an animal acting unusually.
New York State law requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets to be vaccinated for rabies by four months old, with booster shots as recommended. Unvaccinated pets exposed to rabies must be euthanized or quarantined at the owner's expense. Currently, there are no scheduled rabies clinics in Oneida County, but a schedule is expected to be released later this month. More information about rabies prevention and vaccination clinics is available on the county’s official website.
The Health Department continues to monitor the situation and encourages anyone with concerns about possible exposure to contact them at any time. For further updates, residents can check local news sources like Yahoo News.