Brookline Health Officials Warn of Rabies Danger after Bat Tests Positive

Brookline health officials are urging residents to use extreme caution around bats after an animal captured in Brookline tested positive for rabies earlier this week.

The Brookline Health Department announced Monday that a bat captured in Brookline had tested positive at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The town routinely submits bats for testing when there is a chance the animal may have come in contact with humans or pets.

Health officials warn that anyone who encounters a bat in their home should keep the bat indoors and contact an animal control agency to capture it unless they can safely rule out any exposure between the bat and any humans or pets. Exposure may occur without leaving a visible bite or cut, particularly when a bat is discovered in a room where someone was sleeping.

Humans and pets exposed to a bat should be immediately reported to the Brookline Health Department (617) 730-2300. The department can also recommend animal control companies able to properly capture a bat for testing.

Rabies is a viral disease that infects the central nervous system, causing fever, headache, partial paralysis and hallucinations. Death usually follows within days of the onset of rabies symptoms.

Despite vaccination efforts, two or three people on average still die each year from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

See the attached rabies advisory for more information about what to do in the event of a bat exposure.