Rabid Bat Bites Man In Delaware County

OSTRANDER, Ohio—A rabid bat bit a man who was working in Ostrander Monday.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

The man was bitten Monday morning as he was moving a roll of carpet outside a house on Huston Street.

The bat was captured and was delivered it to the state laboratory for testing.

The bat’s positive rabies results were announced Tuesday morning.

The man has been receiving precautionary treatment against rabies.

Four rabid bats have been discovered in Delaware County since late July, and two of them were in the city of Delaware.

The latest incident marked the third time this year a person in Delaware County was given precautionary rabies treatment because of possible exposure to infectious saliva.

The other two incidents involved another bat encounter and a man whom a state wildlife officer found hand-feeding baby raccoons.

All residents were reminded to make sure their pets are vaccinated against rabies and to be on the lookout for bats and other wildlife displaying unusual behavior.

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks mammals’ nervous systems. In humans, it is fatal unless treated.

Extreme caution needs to be exercised when capturing a live bat for testing. Shut the bat in a room. Once it lands, cover it with a plastic pail or other sturdy container, and then slide stiff cardboard over the opening and tape it shut securely. Always wear heavy leather gloves when you might come into contact with a bat or any other wildlife species whether it is alive or dead.

For additional information, or to ask about getting a bat tested in the county, call 740-368-1700.

For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video