2 animals test positive for rabies near Wildlife Images
Sep. 15—Josephine County Public Health officials are advising pet owners to make sure their pets are current on their vaccines after rabies was found in two wild animals outside a local wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit.
A bat and a fox found outside Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center in Merlin Sept. 8 both tested positive for rabies, according to a news advisory issued by the county late Wednesday.
Oregon State university's Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory conducted the tests.
Wildlife Images spokesman Ben Maki stated in an email Thursday morning that no animals in the nonprofit's care have rabies.
"Our resident animals are regularly vaccinated, and received booster shots as a result of these cases," Maki said.
was not immediately returned Wednesday evening. A staff member reached by phone said he wasn't aware of any rabies infections within the rehabilitation center.
State health officials advise that locals take simple precautions to protect themselves and reduce the spread of rabies: Make sure dogs and cats are up to date on their rabies vaccines. And never handle bats.
The viral disease attacks mammal nervous systems, according to information in the release from Oregon Health Authority public health veterinarian Emilio DeBess.
Bats often are a carrier of the viral disease, but rabies is a rarity in Oregon bats.
"Very few bats in Oregon have rabies, and rabies in other animals is even rarer," the release states.
DeBess advised Josephine County residents to avoid bats, particularly bats spotted in daylight hours.
Josephine County Public Health listed rabies symptoms in wild animals, such as foxes and raccoons, that include lethargy, walking in circles, loss of coordination, convulsions, irritability, aggressiveness, disorientation, excessive drooling and showing no fear of humans.
Josephine County residents who see a sick bat should call the sheriff's office animal control division at 541-474-5123 and keep pets away from it. If a pet comes in contact with a bat, residents should call their veterinarian.
If a bat had contact with a human or an animal, contact Josephine County Public Health at 541-474-5325.
Reach web editor Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or nmorgan@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MTwebeditor.
