A BAT FOUND AT THE STARSMORE VISITOR AND NATURE CENTER IN NORTH CHEYENNE CANYON WAS CONFIRMED TO HAVE RABIES, MAKING IT THE FIRST ANIMAL TO TEST POSITIVE FOR THE DISEASE IN EL PASO COUNTY THIS YEAR. ON MONDAY, JULY 10, EL PASO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH WAS NOTIFIED OF THE BAT, WHICH WAS FOUND CRAWLING ON THE GROUND. THE BAT WAS SENT FOR TESTING, THEN CONFIRMED POSITIVE FOR RABIES THURSDAY, JULY 13. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO KNOWN EXPOSURES BETWEEN THE BAT AND ANY VISITORS OR STAFF. RABIES IS A VIRUS THAT GENERALLY INFECTS WILD MAMMALS, SUCH AS BATS, RACCOONS, SKUNKS AND FOXES, BUT IT CAN ALSO INFECT YOUR PETS TOO. THE DISEASE IS SPREAD MOST OFTEN BY A BITE FROM A RABID ANIMAL. RABIES IS NEARLY ALWAYS FATAL IF CONTRACTED BY PEOPLE.
