EAST BRUNSWICK – A bat tested positive for rabies in the vicinity of Yorktown Road and Brandywine Drive.
A bat was found in a home on Yorktown Road on Sept. 17. The bat was captured by animal control and was sent to the New Jersey Department of Health Laboratory for testing. It was reported on Sept. 19 that the animal tested positive for rabies, according to the Middlesex County Office of Health Services.
There are five human exposures and one domestic animal exposure to the bat, according to officials. The residents were advised to seek medical consultation for rabies post-exposure, and to have the domestic animal seen by a veterinarian.
This is the eighth rabid animal reported in Middlesex County for 2017 and the first rabid animal reported in East Brunswick, according to the Office of Health Services.
The Office of Health Services continues to monitor rabies cases within the municipality. Residents should report wild animals showing signs of unusual behavior to the police department. Additionally, it is recommended that residents should avoid contact with wild animals and immediately report any bites from wild or domestic animals to your local health department and consult a physician as soon as possible. Finally, be sure that all family pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations.
Middlesex County Office of Health Services’ registered environmental health specialists will be distributing rabies fact sheets within the area.
