A bat in Cowlitz County tested positive for rabies for the first time since 2019, Cowlitz County Health and Human Services announced Friday.
Health and Human Services is working with the family of the resident who discovered the bat to ensure anyone who may have been exposed receives treatment if needed, according to a press release.
The notice did not explain why the bat was tested, or if it had bitten someone.
Rabies is a severe viral disease that is almost always fatal, and can be contracted from animal bites or when saliva from a rabid animal gets into a person’s eyes, nose, mouth or a wound. Bats are the primary animal in Washington that carries rabies, according to the Washington state Department of Health.
People may not know they have been bitten by a bat because their teeth are very small, Cowlitz County Health Officer Steven Krager said in the news release.
Bats can sometimes fly into people’s homes. Anyone in close proximity to a bat and is not sure if they have been exposed is advised not to release the bat before contacting their health provider and Health and Human Services.
If someone is bitten by an animal they believe may be rabid, they should clean the site with soap and water and contact their health provider and Health and Human Services.
Other ways to reduce chances of rabies exposure include bat-proofing homes with door and window screens, teaching children to avoid handling living or dead bats and ensuring pets are vaccinated. Dogs, cats and ferrets are required to be vaccinated against rabies in Washington.
