LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Lake County issued a rabies alert on Wednesday after an infected bat was discovered in the area.
According to FDOH, the bat was found in the Montverde area along 15920 County Rd 455.
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As a result, health officials are urging residents and visitors in the area to avoid contact with bats and other wildlife.
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The release provides the following tips for preventing rabies:
- All pets should remain under direct supervision and be up-to-date on rabies immunizations
- Outdoor garbage bins should be covered and secured to avoid attracting animals
- Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people and pets.
Health officials said that rabies can cause paralysis and is fatal to warm-blooded animals — including humans.
The disease can be spread via saliva, meaning people can become infected through bites, scratches or exposure of fresh cuts to the saliva of a rabid animal.
Anyone who may have had contact with a bat or knows someone who was is urged to contact Lake County Sheriff’s Office Animal Enforcement at 352-343-2101.
For more information on rabies, visit the FDOH website here.
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