Cumberland County's first case of rabies found in bat
A man brought a bat to an animal shelter Saturday in Fayetteville after realizing he had "possibly been exposed" to rabies while working in his yard Friday evening.
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The bat was found on the 400 block of Dunmore Road off Yadkin Road, according to animal control.
All pet owners in the area are urged to check the vaccination status of their pets.
"If pets are not vaccinated or are due for a booster shot, they should be taken to a local veterinarian for rabies vaccination immediately," a statement from animal control said.
Signs of rabies in animals include:
- Change of behavior: Animals may become aggressive or attack for no reason. They may also become very quiet.
- Wild animals may lose their fear of people and instead of running away when approached, act tame.
- Rabid animals may "walk in a circle, drag a leg or fall over."
- Some animals do not have the ability to swallow
This case of rabies is the first the county has seen this year. As a reminder, animal control said if you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately wash the wound under running water for at least 10 minutes with lots of soap and seek medical attention. Call animal control or the sheriff's office for help or go to the emergency room.
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