LIBERTY, NY — Sullivan County’s Department of Public Health has confirmed that a bat in the Livingston Manor area tested positive for the rabies virus. This is the first confirmed human exposure incident involving a laboratory-verified-positive animal this year. (These are ONLY animals that were able to be tested after being in contact with a human.)

Rabies is not an uncommon disease within wild animals. Rabies occurs commonly throughout New York State, with the vast majority of cases occurring in raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks and woodchucks. Avoiding contact is your absolute best way of protecting yourself from this fatal disease.

Signs of rabies in wild animals includes:

• Aggressive, uncharacteristic behavior, such as attacking objects or people
• Losing fear of humans (acting uncharacteristically friendly)
• Difficulty walking or staggering
• Paralysis of the legs or jaw, loss of coordination
• Difficulty swallowing and a fear of water
• Drooling or foaming at the mouth.

A regularly scheduled rabies vaccination clinic for dogs, cats and ferrets is being held September 16 at the Narrowsburg Fire House from 5-7 p.m. Pre-registration is requested by calling 845-292-5910.

The Department of Public Health is working to provide another clinic in the Town of Rockland area; please check the County website and local media outlets for updates.

What Can People Do to Protect Themselves Against Rabies?

• Avoid all unnecessary physical contact with wild animals. Rabies is 100% fatal if not promptly treated with rabies post exposure prophylaxis.
• Be sure your pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to ensure your pets are fully vaccinated. Pets too young to be vaccinated should be kept indoors.
• Don’t try to separate two fighting animals. Wear gloves if you handle your pet after a fight.
• Keep family pets indoors at night. Don’t leave them outside unattended or let them roam free.
• Don’t attract wild animals to your home or yard. Keep your property free of stored bird seed, food garbage or other foods that may attract animals. Feed pets indoors. Tightly cap or put away garbage cans. Board up any openings to your attic, basement, porch or garage. Cap your chimney with screens.
• Don’t feed, touch or adopt wild animals, stray dogs or stray cats.

What if Someone Is Bitten?

• Encourage children to immediately tell an adult if they are bitten by any animal.
• Seek treatment for all animal bites and report contact with any wild animals to Sullivan County Department of Public Health at(845) 292-5910.
• If you can safely do so, don’t let an animal escape that has possibly exposed someone to rabies. This also includes bats, as bats can be difficult to keep out of buildings because they can get through cracks as small as a pencil. Bats have small, sharp teeth and in certain circumstances people can be bitten and not know it. 

For more information, please contact the Sullivan County Department of Public Health at 845-292-5910.