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Two more bats test positive for rabies in Cumberland County

The State Public Health Lab on Tuesday reported two more positive rabies results for bats found in Cumberland County.

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Melvin Place
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The North Carolina Laboratory of Public Health on Tuesday reported two more positive rabies results for bats found in Cumberland County.

A bat picked up in the 7100 block of Riddle Road, off Yarborough Road, tested positive for the disease.

The second bat was found at Melvin Place off Rosehill Road, where two dead bats tested positive for rabies in early July. Because the animal was injured, the rabies test results were inconclusive, but health officials are treating it as a positive case.

Cumberland County Animal Control officials planned to canvass the Riddle Road and Melvin Place areas on Tuesday, alerting residents about the rabid bats.

Twelve cases of rabies have been reported in Cumberland County so far this year.

Health officials encourage parents whose child may have had contact with a bat to call 910-433-3707 immediately.

Pet owners are also urged to keep rabies vaccinations current and be on the lookout for any animals behaving strangely. A change in behavior is often the first sign of rabies.

People should immediately wash the wound, call Animal Control and go to the emergency room if they are bitten by a potentially rabid animal.

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