Garland Health Department notified of rabid bat

On Aug. 13, 2020, the Garland Health Department (GHD) received notification of a laboratory confirmed case of rabies in a bat. The animal was captured near the 2500 block of Beasley Drive on Aug. 11, 2020. We have no reports of exposure to humans from the bat we received. We do believe there was an exposure to an owned canine who is current on the rabies vaccine. The canine will be in isolation for 45 days and has received a rabies booster. This is the first laboratory confirmed case of rabies in an animal in Garland since 2009.

 

The rabies virus is relatively rare in North America and is occasionally found in wild or domesticated animals including, but not limited to dogs, coyotes, skunks, foxes, raccoons, and bats. Infection of humans can occur if virus-laden saliva from a rabid animal is introduced through a bite, scratch, or mucus membrane (such as the nose). Without treatment, infection is almost invariably fatal.

 

To reduce the community’s risk to rabies, citizens should regularly vaccinate their pets and should report any pet or wild animal exhibiting erratic or abnormal behavior to Garland Animal Services. Citizens can contact the Garland Health Department at 972-205-3570 if they have questions, or need to report a potential exposure to the rabid bat.