Halton public health says bat with rabies found at park in Burlington

The Halton Region Public Health Unit says they’ve confirmed that a bat found at LaSalle Park in Burlington has rabies.

Public health says the bat was found on Oct. 9 and they’re encouraging any residents or pets who may have had direct contact with the animal to go to a doctor or vet immediately.

Rabies is a viral disease that causes severe damage to the brain and spinal cord and can lead to death if untreated.

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The virus is spread through the saliva of an infected animal such as a raccoon, skunk, bat, dog, cat or fox.

Public health says nearly all human cases of rabies in Canada are due to bat bites, although the illness is fairly rare among people in the country.

A bat that has rabies may move slowly, lose the ability to fly, remain active during daylight hours or be unresponsive to loud noises.

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Public health recommends the following steps if you come in contact with a bat or other suspected infected animal:

• Call Animal Control Services. Do not touch dead or sick animals with bare hands.
• Collect the contact information of the animal’s owner/custodian where applicable (their name, address and phone number).
• Immediately wash all bite or scratch wounds with soap and water and seek medical attention.
• Report all animal bites or scratches to Halton Region Public Health by calling 311.

Public health says rabies in humans is exceedingly rare, and can be prevented by the use of an extremely effective rabies vaccine, but only if it is promptly administered after exposure.