CORNWALL – The region’s health unit says a bat has tested positive for rabies.
The Eastern Ontario Health Unit, which covers Cornwall, SD&G and Prescott-Russell, says there are no human cases at this time.
The health unit said the rabid bat was discovered through “routine surveillance” but did not say where the animal was found.
Rabies is a fatal disease spread through the bite or a scratch of an infected animal. It’s usually found in wild animals including bats, raccoons, foxes and skunks.
The health unit says if you find a bat, alive or dead, in your bedroom or your child’s bedroom, you should go to your local hospital’s ER regardless of whether you think you’ve been bitten.
It says the instances of rabid bats have been increasing locally over the last couple of years.
Meantime, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry will be doing its annual rabies vaccine bait drops in Cornwall and on Cornwall Island later this month. The program targets skunks and raccoons.