SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 30, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Public health officials are warning Utahns to avoid contact with bats following a positive rabies test earlier this month.
Bats are the primary carrier of the rabies virus in Utah, though the disease can be spread by other infected animals, according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
A person can get rabies through a bite, scratch or saliva from an infected animal. Because bats have very small teeth and claws, a bite or scratch may not leave a mark or even be felt by the injured person, health officials said.
Rabies affects the nervous system in humans and animals, and it’s almost always fatal once symptoms develop, the health department said in a news release Thursday.
“Even though only a small number of bats actually carry rabies, it is important to take the proper steps to avoid contact with a bat,” the release says.
Those who encounter a bat — whether dead or alive — should not touch, hit, destroy or attempt to remove it, health officials said.
“Call your local animal control office to collect the bat and call your local public health department immediately to determine if testing the bat for rabies is necessary,” the release says.
Rabies preventive treatment, known as post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, may be necessary and potentially life-saving. Health care providers and public health officials can help determine if PEP is needed after a potential exposure.
Signs of rabies in animals include obvious changes in normal behavior, such as aggression, foaming at the mouth, no interest in food or water, staggering, or paralysis, health officials said.
It can be difficult to tell if an animal is rabid just by looking at it, so all contact with unfamiliar animals should be reported, according to the news release. Only a laboratory test after an animal has died can determine if it had rabies.
It’s also important that pets are up to date on vaccines in case they come into contact with a wild animal with rabies, health officials said. State law requires pet dogs, cats and ferrets to be immunized against rabies.
State health officials offered the following tips for reducing the risk of rabies:
- Never handle a wild animal with bare hands.
- Make sure pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations.
- Keep pets inside and supervise them when outside. This will help keep pets from coming in contact with wild animals.
- Call your local animal control officials to report stray dogs and cats.
- Stay away from wild animals. If you have children, make sure they understand not to approach or pick up wildlife.
- If you see a wild animal acting strangely, report it to animal control.
- Keep bats out of your home. Seal any cracks and gaps where bats can get into your home. If you know you have bats in your home, work with a local expert to find ways to keep bats out or contact the Utah Division of Wildlife Services.
- Consider the rabies pre-exposure vaccine when traveling to a country where rabies is common. Ask your health care provider or a travel clinic whether you should receive the rabies vaccine.
- Take action if you are bitten or scratched. Immediately wash the wound with soap and water, and see a health care provider. Contact animal control to help capture the animal for observation or rabies testing.
For more information on rabies, visit epi.health.utah.gov/rabies.
