Bat Warning Issued By St. Louis County Health Department

The St. Louis County Department of Health is warning residents to stay away from and report any bats they come in contact with.

Health department officials tell Town and Country-Manchester Patch that a bat was recently found in Manchester, and a resident underwent rabies shots.

Due to privacy laws, the department cannot release specific information on the location of the bat or resident, but officials said the bat was found in a home near Big Bend Woods Drive, and the bat tested negative for rabies. One family member received a series of rabies shots as a precaution.

There have not been any incidents reported in Town and Country, John Shelton, a health department spokesperson, said.

The St. Louis County Health Department said in a news release that this is the time of year that bats are awakening from hibernation, and residents are cautioned to avoid handling the animals, because some can carry rabies. 

People who encounter a live or dead bat in their homes should contact the health department immediately. They should not attempt to capture a live bat, but should confine it to the room where it is discovered so animal control officers can collect it for possible rabies testing, the department said in a release. Residents should never release a bat found in a home if it was present while people were sleeping, or it was in the same room with children or adults who may not be able to describe the extent of their exposure. 

In St. Louis County last year, 386 bats were tested, and 12 had rabies, said Rebecca Smail, health department program manager of vector control and veterinary services. Smail also said that people should make sure their pets' immunizations are up to date, because rabies can be readily passed from wild animals to domestic pets. She said that once transmitted, rabies has no cure and is almost always fatal.

Health officials urge people to watch for and report any animal that is behaving strangely and teach children to stay away from any unknown animals. However, they want to remind residents that most bats do not carry rabies, but actually perform a beneficial service by eating large quantities of insects. 

If you find a bat or come in contact with any wild animal, contact the St. Louis County Department of Health at 314-831-6500. After business hours, and on weekends and holidays, call St. Louis County Police at 314-889-2341.

For more information contact St. Louis County Animal Control.