A rabid bat was found in the Meadowthorpe neighborhood, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department said Friday.
The bat that tested positive for rabies was found in the 40511 zip code, and signs have been posted to let residents know, the health department said in a news release.
While the bat does not appear to have come in contact with any animals in the area, the health department said pet owners should keep an eye out for symptoms of the virus, which can include fever, loss of appetite, changes in behavior and chewing at the site where the animal was bitten.
The health department also urged pet owners to make sure their pets are up to date on their rabies vaccines, which are required by Kentucky law for dogs, cats and ferrets.
A bat that can’t fly or that is active during the day might be suspected of having rabies, the health department said.
Anyone who finds a bat should not touch it. Rabies is transmitted to humans through the saliva of infected animals, usually via a bite, according to the health department. The CDC says bites and scratches from infected bats can be so small a person might not even realize they have been bitten.
The health department said that if you find a bat in your home and can’t rule out the possibility of human exposure, call the city’s Division of Environmental Health and Protection at (859) 231-9791 to have the animal collected for rabies testing.
Bats can enter houses through chimneys, vents and the openings behind shutters, and they can squeeze in under doors, siding, shingles and eaves, the health department said.
They need an opening of only a quarter of an inch by a half inch to enter, the health department said, and holes of this size should be plugged with steel wool or caulk. To prevent unintentionally trapping bats inside the structure, the health department said it is best to fill holes in the fall or winter.
