RABIES CASE CONFIRMED IN SOMERS POINT

Atlantic County’s fifth case of rabies has been confirmed in a bat collected from a Somers Point home on August 11. This is the fourth rabies case this year to involve a bat; the only other case involved a raccoon. Household members found two of their three cats engaged with the bat in their Massachusetts Avenue home. The bat was trapped and promptly removed by local animal control officials. It was then sent to the state lab for testing and confirmed positive for rabies on August 12. An investigation by the Atlantic County Division of Public Health has found that there were three possible human exposures and four potential animal exposures. Household members have been advised to consult with a physician regarding post exposure rabies treatment. The owner’s one dog and three cats will receive booster rabies vaccinations and will likely be placed under temporary confinement.