Harris County Health Department officials have announced several additional cases of rabid bats found in areas not far from the location where one Humble High School student died from exposure to a rabid bat.
A dead bat found in Humble tested positive for rabies. The bat was found in a Deer Crossing back yard. This is just a mile from where Humble High School student, Zach Jones contracted rabies from a bat just two weeks earlier. An area womans dog alerted her to the bat in her backyard. On Wednesday May 24, notices were placed on neighbors doors explaining the discovery.
Health department officials said that another bat, found May 21 in the Fall Creek subdivision on Horizon Falls, has also tested positive for Rabies.
This bat was found in the garage of a house lived in by a family with a 2 year old, and domestic animals. The father, Jeffrey Stubbs, submitted the dead bat to the health department for testing.
The child is now scheduled to receive a series of eight shots at Texas Childrens Hospital, to protect him from the disease, although there is no indication he actually touched the bat. The shots are being administered as a precaution. The family cats and a dog will also receive shots, as they could pass the disease to humans if infected, which is not known.
Another bat is being tested for rabies after it was seen acting strangely in a Clear Lake area park. A woman was walking her dog in a Bay Glen subdivision park when she saw a bat exhibiting strange behavior. The bat was on a bush near the sidewalk. The woman used a pinecone to scoop the bat into a container. She then took the bat home with her and called animal control. The bat was euthanized and will be tested.
Rabid bats are common, say health officials. The increase in reports is most likely due to heightened awareness.
This is the 13th case of rabid bats reported in Harris County so far this year, according to the department. Officials stressed that so far, they do not think this is an abnormal situation, but urged residents to exercise caution and look for other similar cases to report and avoid.
A veterinarian for the country, Dr. Paul Grunenwald, said that the department is watching the Humble area in particular.
Rabies in humans is a usually fatal disease, a virus that causes swelling of the brain, accompanied by headaches, nausea, vomiting, fever, and throat paralysis. Animal control urges residents to call them if they see a bat that is acting strangely. Do not personally handle the bat.