SHAWANO COUNTY, WI – The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department is urging residents to avoid contact with wild animals after a bat in Shawano County tested positive for rabies.
Health officials say it is the first confirmed rabid bat in Shawano County this year and serves as an important reminder that the deadly virus remains present in local wildlife.
Rabies is a viral disease most commonly transmitted through the bite of an infected mammal. It can also spread if an infected animal scratches a person or if saliva from a rabid animal comes into contact with broken skin. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal.
The Health Department is encouraging residents to take preventive measures, including keeping dogs, cats, ferrets, and livestock up to date on their rabies vaccinations and avoiding contact with wild animals, especially those acting unusually.
Officials also recommend teaching children never to approach unfamiliar animals and discouraging people from keeping wild or exotic animals as pets.
Residents who find a bat inside their home are advised not to release it before contacting the Health Department, as the animal may need to be tested for rabies if there is any possibility of human exposure.
Anyone who is bitten or scratched by a wild animal should immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention. If it can be done safely, the animal should be contained until local health officials can determine whether rabies testing is necessary.
Health officials say early symptoms of rabies can include fever, headache, irritability, pain or itching near the exposure site, and double vision before progressing to severe neurological symptoms. Because the disease cannot be successfully treated after symptoms appear, prompt medical evaluation following a potential exposure is critical.
The Shawano-Menominee Counties Health Department reminds residents that while rabid bats are uncommon, Wisconsin typically identifies rabies in bats each year, making awareness and prevention the best defense against the disease.
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