Owen County has its first confirmed case of rabies in 16 years. The Three Rivers District Health Department submitted a bat collected from the Timber Lake area on Aug. 10 to the State Rabies Lab in Frankfort. The bat was confirmed positive by the lab the following morning. Owen County’s last positive case was also in a bat, in 1990.
There have been eight positive-tested animals since 1980 collected from around Owen County, ranging from foxes, skunks and bats to domestic animals such as a cat collected in 1984. While a confirmed case of rabies should not panic residents, it should reiterate the importance of getting your dogs and cats vaccinated for the disease.
When animals or humans contract the disease, it is almost always fatal; however, the disease is also preventable by vaccinations. Persons and animals suspected of having been exposed or bitten by a rabid animal could require a series of post-exposure immune-globulin injections to prevent contraction of the disease.
Any questions may be directed to Justin Pittman at Three Rivers District Health Department, (502) 484-3412.

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