Rabies Info / Health Department Info

Rabies is a viral disease which almost always leads to death, unless treatment is provided soon after exposure. New York State frequently leads the nation in the number of rabid animals.

While unlikely, it is possible that a person may be exposed to rabies from a bat and not realize it. Bats have small, sharp teeth and a person who is unaware or unable to tell someone else about their exposure (for example, a small child or a sleeping person) may not recognize a puncture wound or notice pain from a minor bite. Therefore, it is possible for someone to be bitten by a bat without knowing it as described in the following scenarios. These scenarios are examples of situations where an exposure could have occurred and should be discussed with a doctor or your local health department some examples of when you should be nervous about rabies without contact is.

• contact between a bat and a person's bare skin
• bat found in a room with a sleeping person
• bat found in a room with an unattended child
• bat found close to an unattended young child outdoors