KIDS HANDLE BAT WITH RABIES

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica D. Keith
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  In early October at The Landings at Goodfellow Air Force Base, four dependent children were found holding a bat ... the kind with wings, not the kind that hits baseballs.

Tests confirmed the animal had rabies, and the children underwent a two-week vaccination series to ensure they did not contract the disease.

San Angelo, Texas, is a large rural area where animals and humans often come into contact, and some of these animals may carry deadly diseases.

Rabies is a viral infection most commonly spread from animals to humans through contact with saliva from animal bites and is 100 percent lethal to humans if left untreated, according to John McEachern, a regulatory wildlife biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in San Angelo. Although uncommon today in America, rabies is still widespread in wild animals and must be considered a possible threat whenever contact with wild animals occurs.

But rabies is not the only disease that can be passed from wild animals to humans, McEachern warned. He said there is a host of bacterial, fungal and sometimes viral animal diseases which can easily be passed to humans through direct contact.

"Animals here have adapted to utilize urban areas, especially when foraging for food," the wildlife biologist said. "So encounters with skunks, raccoons, deer or many other animals are not uncommon in San Angelo and the surrounding towns. A person should never approach these animals. Even though they run away most of the time, they are capable of defending themselves. If a wild animal lets you approach it, something is probably wrong; the animal may be sick or injured."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly all mammals can contract rabies, but it is most commonly found in animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. Common wild animals also are known for other transferrable diseases like Giardiasis, a parasitic infection which causes diarrhea, and Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection with flu-like symptoms that can be lethal.

Capt. Irene R. Jackson, 17th Medical Group Public Health Officer, said the best way to prevent infection is to avoid contact with wild animals. Do not offer a wild animal food or shelter, she said. If contact cannot be avoided, immediately wash your hands and any wounds with soap and water, she added.

To report a wild or domestic animal of concern on base, call the base civil engineer squadron customer service desk. If off base, call the local animal control hotline. For additional information about health concerns associated with wild animals, call the base public health office.