Deschutes County Public Health urges residents to take precautions after a dog in Sisters came into contact with a bat that tested positive for rabies.
Rabies is a serious viral disease that can spread to people and pets through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Post-exposure vaccination is effective, but prevention is the best way to protect your family and pets.
Take these steps to reduce the risk:
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- Avoid contact with bats, whether they are healthy, sick, alive or dead.
- Keep children and pets away from bats.
- Do not feed or handle stray animals or wildlife.
- Make sure your pets’ rabies vaccinations are up to date.
Oregon law requires rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats:
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- First vaccination: between 3 and 6 months old
- First booster: one year later
- Booster shots after that: every three years
Unvaccinated pets that may have been exposed must be euthanized or kept in strict quarantine for four months.
Bats play an important role in our ecosystem. Not all bats carry rabies, but bats are the animal most often reported with rabies in the United States. To stay safe, people should avoid contact with them.
If you see a bat that is active during the day, inside a building, or on the ground and unable to fly, keep children and pets away and contact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at 541-388-6363 or a local wildlife control operator.
If a person or pet has contact with a bat, or if someone is bitten by an animal, report it right away to Deschutes County Animal Control at 541-693-6911 or Deschutes County Environmental Health at 541-317-3114.
For more information about rabies, visit the Oregon Health Authority website or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
