Rabies Detected in Thayer County

Public Health Solutions (PHS) has been notified of a positive case of rabies in a bat found in Thayer County. The bat was captured after it bit an individual in a private home within the county. The individual sought immediate medical attention and is undergoing treatment through their primary care provider.There is no ongoing threat to the public. While there is no cause for alarm, PHS urges residents to be aware of the risks associated with rabies and offers the following safety tips regarding bats, which are common carriers of the disease:Avoid Direct Contact with Bats – Never handle bats with bare hands. If you find a bat in your home, do not touch it.Capture a Bat Safely – If a bat is inside your home and you believe you or someone in the home may have been bitten, use thick gloves and a container to safely capture the bat. It is important to keep the bat. Call Public Health Solutions at 402-826-3880 to report a captured bat so that it can be collected for rabies testing.Seek Medical Attention – If you believe you’ve been exposed to a bat bite, contact your healthcare provider immediately!Bat bites can be so small you may not realize you have been bitten. If a bat is found in your home and members of the household have been sleeping in the same room the bat was found, contact your medical provider for recommendations on possible treatment. Rabies is a serious, but preventable viral disease that affects the central nervous system. The virus is most commonly spread through bites from infected animals, including bats. Rabies is deadly in people, however, medical care is nearly 100 percent effective if administered promptly before symptoms develop.For more information about rabies, including prevention tips like “bat-proofing” your home and what to do if you suspect an exposure, visit the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website at https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/rabies.aspx.

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