COLQUITT COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Colquitt County health officials are warning the public after 11 people were exposed to potentially rabid bats.
Health officials say they want to encourage anyone wakes up with a bat near them or in the same room to immediately go get tested.
A Colquitt County woman reported to department of health officials that she woke up to a frightening sight... bats in her bedroom!
"The bats were not available for testing, we could not test the bats so that's why the rabies provalax was provided to go ahead and get them treated," said Lawanda Lovett.
Environmental Specialist Lawanda Lovett says the scary thing about bats is you may not even know if one bites you. Lovett says their bite is small, she compared it to a mosquito bite.
"You can barely feel them especially if you are sleeping," Lovett explained. "If you wake up with a bat in your room, we advise you to go ahead and start the rabies provalax because there is just really no way to tell unless you saw the bat bite you."
People aren't the only ones that can be harmed by rabies, pets can too! Lovett says it's a deadly and widespread disease.
"Rabies is very fatal if you become exposed and not treated or seek medical treatment immediately, it's 100 percent fatal," Lovett warned. "That means you should protect yourself and your pet by getting them the required vaccinations... It's sad when you have to tell an owner that you have to put an animal to sleep when there is prevention available."
Lovett says the important thing is to be aware, stay away from nocturnal animals that are out during the day.
