Pet owners in Chatham-Kent are being reminded to ensure their pets are vaccinated against rabies.
According to the Thames Valley Animal Hospital, a bat in Blenheim recently tested positive for the disease.
The bat was brought to the clinic last Friday after two kittens were seen playing with it. Representatives with Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture picked up the bat on Monday for testing, with the positive results coming back on Wednesday.
Both kittens were already vaccinated, but will receive booster shots as an added precaution.
The Thames Valley Animal Hospital told CK News Today that rabies can't be ignored.
"Rabies is 100 per cent fatal in humans and can easily be transmitted from bats to humans," said the veterinary clinic.
If you've been bitten by a wild animal, you should get tested right away for the disease.
Any pets seen interacting with a wild animal should also be tested right away. This is despite the fact that it's mandatory for all pets to be vaccinated.
However, it's not as simple as a preventative vaccine for people.
"In humans, it's only available when you're actually exposed," explained the Thames Valley Animal Hospital.
Chatham-Kent Public Health recently released tips to help prevent potential exposures to diseases like rabies.
