Jefferson County health officials reported Friday that a bat found in the Kendrick Lake neighborhood of Lakewood has tested positive for rabies, making it the county’s first animal case of the virus in 2024.

Rabies  is a “viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other mammals,” according to the Jefferson County Public Health website.

People, livestock and pets can contract rabies from the saliva of infected animals, and it can be deadly if medical care is not received before symptoms start.

“One of the most important things we can do to prevent the spread of disease is to not touch and keep distance from wildlife,” Rachel Reichardt, environmental health specialist with Jefferson County Public Health, said in a news release. “If you’ve been bitten by a stray or wild animal, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Contact your healthcare provider or local animal control right away.”

Last year, eight animals tested positive for rabies in Jefferson County, including five skunks and three bats.

County public health experts are asking residents to exercise caution and offer the following steps to stay safe from rabies:

• Keep pets and livestock up to date on rabies vaccines.
• Avoid contact with any wild animals, especially those that are showing unusual behaviors.
• Teach children to stay away from all wild animals, stray pets or dead animals, and to tell an adult if they are scratched or bitten.
• When outside, keep pets close where they can be observed.
• If someone has been in contact with a wild animal or was bitten by a stray pet, seek medical attention immediately and notify your local animal control agency.

To report an animal concern, please contact your local animal control agency, or Jefferson County Animal Control at 303-271-5070. For more information about rabies, please contact Jefferson County Public Health, at 303-232-6301, or visit www.jeffco.us/2365/Rabies.