Bat tests positive for rabies near Snohomish

Published 3:20 pm Tuesday, August 29, 2023

SNOHOMISH — A bat has tested for rabies near Snohomish, health officials said on Tuesday.

A press release announcing the case did not say exactly where the bat was found. “Multiple domestic pets were exposed” and the health department was checking their vaccination record. There was no known human exposure.

Rabies is often fatal without preventative treatment, once symptoms set in.

“Bats are important nocturnal pollinators, and most are harmless. However, like all wild animals, contact with bats should be avoided as they may bite, scratch, and carry diseases,” according to the county health department. “Some bats carry rabies, which is a deadly disease that can spread to humans or other animals through bites and scratches. While only a small percentage of bats in the wild carry rabies, exposures should be taken seriously.”

The case of rabies is the first of this year for Snohomish County and the eighth in the state, according the state Department of Health.

The last positive rabies test in Snohomish County was last summer, county health spokesperson Jennifer Egger said. Calls for potential bat exposure increase in the summer and fall. There has been at least one positive test in four of the past six years, though Egger said there is no indication of a surge in rabies cases.

“Reports regarding suspected exposure to rabies are pretty common this time of year,” Egger wrote in an email. “This is generally considered bat season, because the bats are not in hibernation and are more active, which leads to more humans coming into contact with them. We also tend to hear more about exposures to wildlife in general during the summer because of the increased outdoor activity and people being outside more often.”

Never catch a bat with bare hands.

The state Department of Health has more tips for safely capturing a bat on its website.

“Bat bites may not be noticed because bat teeth are very small,” according to the state.

The county health department is also asking people to not dispose of bats unless instructed to do so by the county, as the bat may need to be undergo testing.

• Bat-proofing your home is also important:

• Securely install window screens that are free of holes;

• Cap chimneys;

• Repair any holes in siding or roofing;

• And make sure doors to the outside close fully.

Jordan Hansen: 425-339-3046; jordan.hansen@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @jordyhansen.