Henry County Health Department confirms rabies case in bat at New Castle park

NEW CASTLE, Ind. — Officials with the Henry County Health Department have confirmed a case of rabies in a bat found in a park in New Castle.

According to a news release from the Henry County Health Department, the bat was found at Baker Park in New Castle on Friday. As of the release’s publication, the department said that no known human or pet exposures have been reported.

Rabies is a viral infection that is primarily spread through saliva through the bite of an infected animal. The release said that three bats have tested positive for rabies in Indiana this year.

The release said that as a precaution, Henry County residents are encouraged to take the following steps to protect themselves and their pets:

• Vaccinate pets, including dogs, cats and ferrets, against rabies
• Avoid handling or feeding wild animals
• Keep pets indoors or on a leash
• Report sick or oddly behaving wildlife by clicking here
• Contact local animal control or law enforcement regarding stray animals

If a person or their pet had potential contact with a bat in Baker Park, they are asked to contact the Henry County Health Department for a rabies risk assessment. The department can be contacted by calling (765) 521-7059 and selecting the second option.