First confirmed case in Medina County since 2011.
(Medina) - A bat from a home in the East Liberty Street area of Medina has tested positive for rabies.
The Medina County Health Department sent the bat to the Ohio Department of Health Laboratory in Columbus on March 6. The results came back on Thursday.
There was no reported exposure to any of the adult residents or family pet. In the past, a rabies case occurs every one to three years in Medina County.
The last reported Medina County rabies case was in a bat from Medina City in 2011. Generally, four to five percent of all bats in Ohio test positive for rabies.
It is important to keep bats out of the home and bedrooms to prevent exposure. If a bat is in a house, capture the bat and call the Medina County Health Department. Do not release the bat.
Ways to catch a bat inside a building include:
· Wear gloves and avoid direct skin contact with the bat.
· Avoid harming the bat head.
· Keep the bat in one room. Close windows, room doors, and closet doors.
· Turn on lights if the room is dark and wait for the bat to land.
· Cover the bat with a coffee can or similar container. Slide a piece of cardboard under the can to trap the bat and tape the cardboard tightly to the can.
· If necessary, use a net or long pole with a piece of duct tape (sticky side out) to capture the bat.
· Do not use a glue board to capture the bat as this affects the rabies test.
· Do not drown the bat as this affects the rabies test.
· Or contact a licensed animal control professional.
If any humans or pets are exposed to a bat, immediately contact the Medina County Health Department. If a pet is exposed to a bat, contact a veterinarian to check the pet’s rabies vaccination status and find out if a booster shot is recommended.
History of Medina County Rabies Cases
(Source: Ohio Department of Health Zoonotic Disease Program Case Records 1980-Present)
1983 – 1 cow
1996 – 1 fox
2001 – 1 bat
2003 – 4 bats
2004 – 1 bat
2007 – 1 bat
2008 – 1 bat
2009 – 1 bat
2011 – 1 bat
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