A bat found in the attic of a Haddonfield home has tested positive for rabies, Camden County health officials said Friday.
Rabies cases in animals are frequently reported by county officials in New Jersey. There were 174 cases reported in the state last year, and 26 so far this year through the end of March.
However, cases of humans contracting rabies in New Jersey are rare. The last known in-state infection occurred in 1997.
On April 18, the bat was found in the Haddonfield home and safely removed. Testing was conducted at the state Public Health and Environmental Laboratories in Trenton.
The lab notified the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services on Friday that the bat was rabid.
“There were no human exposures. Three cats were exposed to the bat,” the county health department said.
The cats had already been vaccinated for rabies and have received the rabies vaccine booster, officials said. The cats will be under confinement and observation for 45 days.
“Rabies is a serious illness, but it can be prevented by early treatment after exposure,” Camden County Commissioner Jennifer Cooley Fleisher said in a statement.
“If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, it is important that you seek immediate medical attention,” Cooley Fleisher said.
Officials recommended that pets be kept up-to-date on rabies vaccinations.
People should avoid contact with unfamiliar animals, including adopting wild animals.
Last month, Burlington County officials reported that a wild raccoon that “tussled with a dog” had tested positive for rabies. The dog was vaccinated and received a booster, officials said.
In late February, Camden County officials said two Cherry Hill residents found a skunk “having an altercation” with their two dogs. The dogs had been vaccinated and were placed under confinement for observation.