Duval County resident exposed to rabid bat

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Duval County is urging you to be on alert and avoid contact with any wild or stray animals after a confirmed rabies exposure case in the county.

DOH-Duval says a Duval County resident was exposed to a rabid bat this month, requiring treatment and vaccinations. Details of where this exposure occurred haven’t been released.

DOH-Duval says the vast majority of rabies cases occur in animals, like raccoons, bats, and foxes.

DOH-Duval recommends the following steps to protect yourself and your family:

• Keep rabies vaccinations up to date for all pets and at-risk livestock.

• Follow local leash laws. Do not allow your pets to run free. Keep pets and livestock secured.

• Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract animals with outdoor food sources such as uncovered trash or litter.

• Teach children to never handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.

• Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools, and other similar areas, where they might encounter people and pets.

• If persons are bitten or scratched by wild or domestic animals, seek medical attention and report the injury to the DOH-Duval County Health Department at 904-253-2567.

• If your pet or livestock are bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.

A rabies warning in Duval County after someone was exposed to a rabid bat. I spoke to a wildlife expert about how to protect yourself. The surprising place where he sees A LOT of bats, coming up at 10 on FOX30 @ActionNewsJax. pic.twitter.com/yzc703yB9i
— Christy Turner (@ChristyANJax) June 18, 2019