Tuscarawas County health officials are reminding residents to avoid contact with bats after a second bat in the county tested positive for rabies this year.
Environmental Health Director Caroline Terakedis says the bat was found near Walnut and Franklin streets in Uhrichsville and was submitted for testing after coming into contact with a county resident. She says the resident had already started rabies post-exposure shots and is continuing with treatment for protection against rabies.
Terakedis says bats are the most common source of rabies exposure in Ohio. About four percent of bats tested statewide are positive for the virus.
Terakedis also says if someone wakes up in a room with a bat, that should be considered a potential rabies exposure, even if no bite is noticed, because bat bites can be very small.
Officials also remind residents to keep dogs, cats and ferrets current on their rabies vaccinations.
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