Dead bat found at Cedar Park clinic tests positive for rabies

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — A dead bat that was found in Cedar Park has tested positive for rabies.

The Cedar Park Police Department posted a PSA on social media Wednesday notifying people that a dead bat found at the entrance to the Baylor Scott & White Clinic on East Whitestone Boulevard had tested positive for rabies.

Police said there is only one person known to have come in direct contact with the bat.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , bats that carry rabies often exhibit unusual behaviors, including the following:

• Active during the day.
• Being in unusual places (inside a home or on the ground).
• Unable to fly or is easily approached.

The CDC recommends that if someone sees strange bat behavior, they should get in touch with animal control or their local public health department.

The CDC also said people should avoid touching bats. CDC guidelines say that if you’re bitten or scratched by a bat, wash the wound with soap and water and get medical help right away. If bat saliva or brain material gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or an open wound, see a healthcare professional urgently.

Bat bites can be tiny, so if you think you have been in contact with a bat, talk to a medical professional. If you find a bat in your home, contact animal control or a health professional to safely capture it for rabies testing. Do not release the bat until you talk with a public health expert.

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