[College Hill Topeka] Fwd: Media Release: Bat Tests Positive for Rabies in Shawnee County

Wed Jul 21 15:54:07 CDT 2021

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rachelle Vega-Retana <rvretana at topeka.org>
Date: Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 8:43 AM
Subject: Media Release: Bat Tests Positive for Rabies in Shawnee County
To:

*Topeka, Kan.* – A bat sent for testing has come back positive for rabies
in Shawnee County. The Shawnee County Health Department (SCHD) is
encouraging residents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of rabies and
the steps to take if exposure is suspected. Rabies is a fatal but
preventable viral disease that is typically transmitted by raccoons, bats,
skunks and foxes.

The first symptoms of rabies include general weakness or discomfort, fever
or headache, and may last for days.  Discomfort or itching of the bite
site, progressing within days to symptoms of cerebral dysfunction, anxiety,
confusion and agitation may then develop. Progression of the disease may
result in delirium, abnormal behavior, hallucinations and insomnia. Once a
person begins to exhibit signs of disease, survival is rare.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) offers the following
tips to help prevent rabies:

   - Have your veterinarian vaccinate all dogs, cats, ferrets, horses and
   valuable breeding stock and show animals (cattle and sheep) against rabies.
   - If bitten by an animal, seek medical attention and report the bite to
   your local public health department or animal control department
   immediately.
   - If your animal is bitten, contact your veterinarian or local health
   department for advice.
   - If you wake up in a room with a bat present, even if there is no
   evidence of a bite or scratch, seek medical attention.
   - Do not handle or feed wild animals. Never adopt wild animals or bring
   them into your home.
   - Do not try to nurse sick wild animals back to health. Call animal
   control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
   - Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic,
   even if they appear friendly.

Rabies vaccination is a four shot series over 14 days. The first shot must
be administered through a primary care office or emergency room, which is
known as day zero.

Shots are received on day zero, the third day, seventh day and fourteenth
day. The remainder of the series can be obtained at the SCHD’s immunization
department at 2115 SW 10
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/2115+SW+10?entry=gmail&source=g>th
Avenue; questions about receiving the vaccination can be made by calling
the SCHD immunization department at 785-251-5700. If a person has not
previously been vaccinated against rabies, they may also need to receive a
human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) vaccination at the time of the first
vaccination of the series.

For more information on rabies visit these links on exposure
<https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/index.html> and prevention
<https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/index.html> from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.

*Shawnee County Health Department is committed to working in partnership
with our community to promote and protect the optimal health of all people
by bridging gaps to eliminate health inequities, respecting the diversity
of our community, through adaptive and innovative processes.*

*Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube*
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/2600+SW+East+Circle+Drive+%0D%0A+Topeka,+KS+66606?entry=gmail&source=g>

[image: Logo_Color_Transparent(3x2.5)]*Craig Barnes*

Division Manager

Community Health Outreach and
Planning

Shawnee County Health Department

2600 SW East Circle Drive
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/2600+SW+East+Circle+Drive+%0D%0A+Topeka,+KS+66606?entry=gmail&source=g>

Topeka, KS 66606
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/2600+SW+East+Circle+Drive+%0D%0A+Topeka,+KS+66606?entry=gmail&source=g>

http://www.shawneehealth.org/
<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.shawneehealth.org%2f&c=E,1,pYrjOEZCX1B2AtMFlfzET3KZoryeO8ovD5ovPSlhtZC2XpOjCB_VuwxikPFjN9tPW-yIHGFEI8a4gP6mb8on9WCDp-g-qkst0PpqtKROMad1I2qb9be0NHQlPSui&typo=1>

785.251.5612 office

785.806.6310 cell

785.251.5696 fax

Rachelle Vega-Retana, Grants Administrator

City of Topeka, Dept. of Planning & Development

Division of Housing Services

620 SE Madison St
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/620+SE+Madison+St?entry=gmail&source=g>.
1st Floor – Unit 8

Topeka, Ks. 66607

Phone: (785) 368-4490

Fax:      (785) 368-2546

Email:    rvretana at topeka.org

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