Mahoning County Confirms 1 Rabid Bat, Urges Residents to Protect Pets

Q: If a bat was in your bedroom overnight, would you know whether you need rabies treatment right away?

Yes. If you wake up and find a bat in your bedroom after sleeping, health officials say you should treat that as a possible rabies exposure and seek guidance immediately, even if you do not see a bite. That is because bat bites can be tiny and easy to miss. Public health guidance cited in the Mahoning County rabies alert warns that anyone who may have been exposed while sleeping should contact health authorities right away so the risk can be assessed and rabies post-exposure treatment can be considered. Rabies is rare in people, but once symptoms begin it is almost always fatal; prompt treatment after exposure is highly effective. If this happens, do not release the bat if it can be safely captured for testing. Avoid touching it with bare hands. If there is any chance a person was exposed, the bat may need to be tested, and damaging or letting it go can make that impossible. If you were clearly bitten or scratched, or saliva got into your eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound, wash the area with soap and water and contact a healthcare provider and local health department immediately. In Mahoning County, residents outside Youngstown should call 330-270-2855 and select option 2. Youngstown residents should call the Youngstown City Health District at 330-743-3333. Officials also urge people to keep pets away from bats and make sure rabies vaccinations are current.

3 articles · Updated · WFMJ · Jul 24

A bat submitted from Mahoning County tested positive for rabies at the Ohio Department of Health laboratory, prompting a public warning about exposure risks.
Rabies spreads through direct contact with saliva or brain and nervous-system tissue from an infected animal, and officials urged residents to avoid wildlife and report bite incidents.
Pets are a key concern: the health department told owners to keep rabies shots current and seek veterinary care immediately if an animal encounters wildlife.
Bats found in homes can be removed by licensed trappers, with officials advising residents to seal entry points afterward; outdoor bats should be left alone and pets kept away.
Mahoning County residents outside Youngstown should call 330-270-2855, option 2, about bat exposures, while Youngstown residents should contact the city health district at 330-743-3333.