6 kids being treated for rabies exposure in Rock County

Six kids are being treated for rabies exposure after finding and handling a sick bat, according to a release from the Rock County Health Department.

“The positive rabies result is a reminder that this fatal disease is present in our community’s wildlife,” Rock County Health Department Public Health Officer Marie-Noel Sandoval said in the release. “The public should be aware of what rabies is and how it is spread.”

Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals, according to the release. People contract rabies by being bitten by an animal with rabies.

The Rock County Health Department offers the following tips to avoid getting rabies:

Teach children to never handle bats or other wild animals
Always be wary of animals that are acting out of character, such as a raccoon that is out during the day Thoroughly wash any wound from an animal with soap and water and seek medical attention
Have all dead, sick or easily captured bats tested for rabies if exposure to people or pets occurs Prevent bats from entering living quarters Keep pets vaccinated