Multiple Baldwin County residents have undergone post-exposure rabies treatment after being bitten by bats at different homes, the Alabama Department of Public Health announced Thursday.
None of the bats involved in the incidents were submitted for testing, requiring the patients to receive treatment, according to a news release.
According to the health department, any person bitten by a bat requires post-exposure treatment unless the bat tests negative for rabies.
The incidents reflect a broader trend of increased human exposure to rabid or potentially rabid animals in Alabama and nationwide, the department said.
Dr. Dee W. Jones, state public health veterinarian, emphasized the importance of proper response to bat encounters.
“Recognizing a potential exposure and responding appropriately remain critical to preventing this fatal disease,” Jones said.
“Bats require particular caution when found inside homes, college dormitories, nursing homes, or other living quarters. People who were sleeping or cannot reliably determine whether contact occurred may need evaluation for possible rabies exposure.”
Jones noted that a single bat found in living quarters can potentially result in multiple people needing evaluation.
“Whenever possible, the bat should be safely captured and secured rather than released outside,” Jones said.
Rabies is transmitted through bites, scratches or other contact with infected saliva.
While the disease is fatal if left untreated, it is preventable with prompt treatment after exposure.
The health department cautioned the public never to handle bats or other wildlife with bare hands.
Officials advised avoiding contact with wildlife, especially animals behaving abnormally, and teaching children to report any bite, scratch or other contact with wild or unfamiliar animals.
Anyone exposed to a bat should seek emergency care immediately without waiting for symptoms to develop, and healthcare providers will evaluate the risk to determine whether post-exposure prophylaxis needs to be administered, the release said.
