Five confirmed reports of rabid bats statewide has the Department of Health urging the public to be aware of the ongoing risk of rabies.
The Department of Health said five reports is not unusually high; however, they hope to keep the number of possible rabies exposures low. Bats are more active during the summer months, which increases the risk to humans and animals.
Three of the confirmed cases of rabies this year were in King County, said Marqise Allen, a spokesman for the Department of Health. The others took place in Island and Whatcom counties.
One percent of bats carry the rabies virus, but people are more likely to come into contact with rabid bats than healthy bats, according to the Department of Health. Healthy bats avoid people and animals, and they do not rest on the ground.
The last confirmed case of a bat with rabies in Lewis County was in 2011, Allen said. That same year, there were two other confirmed cases in Thurston County.
Since 2003, Lewis County had a total of three bats with rabies, he said. Thurston County had 11.
There are a few warnings signs in a bat’s behavior that may be indicative of rabies. A bat that comes out during the day or that is found on the ground or in the brush may be infected.
Bats with rabies may also fly erratically, according to the Department of Health.
Every year, between 200 and 350 bats in the state are tested for rabies following close interactions with humans or pets. About 5 to 10 percent of that number test positive for rabies.
The Department of Health reports that between 250 are 300 people each year in Washington who are exposed to a potentially rabid animal end up getting the painful and expensive shots necessary to treat rabies. Immediate preventative medication is crucial after a possible rabies exposure, as once a person or animal begins to show symptoms, rabies can be deadly.
Animals bites should be washed right away with soap and water. Any direct contact with a bat should be carefully evaluated by a health professional.
If a bat is found in a room with a small child, an intoxicated person, a mentally incapacitated individual or someone who is sleeping, they should see a doctor right away, according to the Department of Health.
Bat teeth are very small and bite marks may not be visible or felt.
Washington requires all cats, dogs and ferrets to receive rabies vaccinations. Rabies shots are crucial in lowering the possibility of humans being exposed to the disease.
For more information, go to the Department of Health website at www.doh.wa.gov.
