Grey Bruce Health Unit announced today two bats found in the region have tested positive for rabies.
One of the bats was found in The Blue Mountains, and the other in Brockton. Testing confirmed they were both rabid.
According to the health unit, there were no known positive cases of rabies in animals in 2019, and there was one case in 2018.
"This incident is a reminder that rabies continues to be present in wildlife," stated a press release from the health unit.
Rabies is a deadly disease transferred through the saliva of a rabid animal. Rabies is fatal to unprotected animals and will cause death in humans if not treated in a timely manner.
The treatment for rabies in humans must occur post-exposure and before symptoms occur, and involves a series of injections.
The health unit is reminding the public not to feed or touch a wild or unknown animal, particularly an animal acting strangely or one appearing ill or injured.
You should keep your pets under control at all times. Law requires all cats, dogs, and ferrets to be immunized against rabies. Livestock that may have contact with the general public must also be immunized.
For further information, call public health at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 or visit our website at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.
You can have your pet vaccinated against rabies at your veterinarian's office. Georgian Triangle Humane Society is also running monthly rabies vaccination clinics. You can find more information on the clinics here.
