By Jacob Murphy, DVM
A bat from Whatcom County has tested positive for rabies after being sent to the state public health lab. This is the first confirmed rabies specimen in the county for 2024.
Bats are the primary carrier of rabies in Washington State. Between 3-10% of bats submitted for testing in Washington State are found to have rabies. Bats are the only animal in Washington known to be a source (reservoir) of rabies, although in other states across the country, raccoons, skunks, and foxes are sources of rabies. Most bats do not have rabies, but all contact with bats should be avoided to prevent exposure to rabies virus. Every year there are bats that test positive for rabies after being submitted to public health for testing. The last reported case of rabies in an animal other than a bat was in 2015. A cat developed rabies after catching a rabid bat. The last reported cases of people infected with rabies in Washington were in 1995 and 1997.
Rabies infection can occur when people, pets, or livestock are bitten by a rabid animal or have contact with the infected animal’s saliva through a break in their skin or mucus membrane. The rabies virus attacks the nervous system, and once symptoms appear, the disease is nearly always fatal.
What can you do:
Avoid exposure to bats as much as possible, fill gaps in windows or roofs, keep feed stored in sealed containers, consider bright lights to deter bats.
You can protect your animal with a rabies vaccine that can only be given by a licensed veterinarian. Our clinic carries the Equine Core EQ Innovator Vaccine which contains protection against rabies, tetanus, West Nile, and Eastern and Western encephalomyelitis. We also carry the Imrab 3 Rabies only vaccine for companion pets and other livestock. Washington State law requires that dogs, cats, and ferrets are vaccinated against rabies. Please contact us to schedule your animal’s vaccination at 360-354-5095.
If you think you or someone in your home may have been exposed to a bat call the Whatcom Health and Community Services at 360-778-6000. They will help you decide if you need to capture the bat to be tested for rabies and what you should do next.
