ALBANY – State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines, Thursday urged all New Yorkers to know how to prevent rabies exposure and respond in the event of a possible rabies exposure following a search this week for a man who handled a bat that later tested positive for rabies.

Testing conducted at the State Health Department's rabies laboratory in Albany confirmed that the bat handled by the man was positive for rabies. The Tompkins County Health Department was seeking the unidentified man for post-exposure treatment with rabies vaccine, which is effective in preventing the onset of rabies if begun within a few days of exposure. Rabies is almost 100 percent fatal without post-exposure treatment.

On Sunday while walking a dog in a park in Ithaca, a man was observed picking up and handling a bat and remarking that he had been bitten. The man, however, put the bat down and exited the park. An alert bystander who witnessed the exposure contacted the county health department, which picked up and submitted the bat for testing at the state rabies laboratory, where it was confirmed positive for rabies.

"Any bat that has contact with a person or that flies into them in any circumstance could be rabid, even if it looks healthy," said Commissioner Daines. "Any such exposure should be evaluated immediately for preventive treatment, which is often recommended in these circumstances unless the bat can be tested for rabies and found to be negative."

A bat that is active during the day, is unable to fly, or is found in a place where bats are not usually seen -- such as a room in your home -- is even more likely to be rabid, Dr. Daines said. Anyone who has questions about a possible bat exposure should contact their local health department or health care provider.