Bats and Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease of the brain and nervous system that is always fatal once symptoms begin. In Washington State, most cases of rabies in animals occur in bats. Most bats, however, do not carry rabies, and most of the bats tested for rabies in Washington are not infected. A healthy bat typically avoids any contact with humans or animals. Because rabies is a life threatening disease, caution must be taken when bats come into contact with humans or animals.

What kind of contact with a bat could transmit rabies?

Rabid bats frequently lose their ability to fly, or do not fly well. Rarely, a bat that has rabies can be aggressive.

Rabies is transmitted when an infected bat bites or scratches a person's skin. Bat bites may not be noticed because bat teeth are very tiny and razor sharp. Examining a person for evidence of a bat bite is unreliable, because a bat bite can be no bigger than a needle prick. Therefore, any physical (or direct) contact with a bat should be considered a possible rabies exposure.

Bats flying overhead, and bats that have not had direct physical contact with humans or animals, do not pose a risk for transmitting rabies. If someone wakes up to find a bat in the room, or a bat is found in the room of an unattended small child, an intoxicated or mentally incapacitated person, or pet, then the possibility exists that a bat bite, scratch, or direct contact, may have occurred. When someone has had a bite, scratch, or direct contact from a bat, it is called an exposure.

What should I do if I suspect a bat has bitten, scratched or had direct contact with me (or another person, child or a pet)?

It is very important to attempt to capture a bat that is known or suspected to have bitten or scratched, or had direct contact with a person or pet, so that it can be tested for rabies. Testing is important because testing can confirm whether rabies vaccination is necessary to prevent rabies.

If direct contact is likely to have occurred, but the bat is not available for testing, Public Health and health care providers will recommend that the exposed person receive rabies vaccination treatment. Often rabies treatment can be avoided if the bat is tested for rabies.

What is the best way to capture a bat?

Bats should be captured only if there has been direct contact with a person or pet, or if the bat was found in the room of someone who might have been bitten. Once these bats are captured, they should be tested for rabies infection. Do not release a live bat, or throw out a dead bat, that has bitten or scratched, or has had direct contact with a person, unless Public Health has told you that it will not be necessary to test the bat.

The following ideas are offered as ways to safely capture a bat:

Never handle bats with bare hands. Wear thick gloves to pick up the bat or pick up the bat with a shovel, or dust pan.

Wait until the bat has landed. Place an empty can or wastebasket over the bat and slide cardboard underneath these to contain the bat.

If the bat is still flying, try striking it with a broom, or tennis racket, in order to knock it down. You can also try to capture it in a net.

If a bat is found dead, place the bat in a sealed can or jar, or place it in a plastic bag that is within another bag.

Bats should be carefully placed in a container that can be sealed (such as a coffee can or plastic container with a lid).

If you need help capturing a bat, certain pest control or nuisance wildlife companies can help you. Be certain that the company is familiar with Public Health guidelines and is willing to turn the bat over for rabies testing if necessary.

Bats that will be sent to a laboratory for testing should be refrigerated (not frozen) until the laboratory can begin testing.

Contact Public Health at 206-296-4774 to determine whether a captured bat should be tested for rabies. If you capture a bat after regular work hours, call Public Health on the next workday. Keep the bat in a sealed container, as described above, and store in a cooler or refrigerator until you have contacted Public Health.

If Public Health has told you that it is not necessary to test the bat, and the bat is alive, you can release the bat outside and away from your home.

If Public Health tells you that it will not be necessary to test the bat, but the bat is injured, your local animal control office may be able to help. A preferred option is to take the injured bat to the Lynnwood HOWL Wildlife. HOWL can be reached by telephoning 425-787-2500, extension 490.

How can I arrange to get a bat tested when it has been in contact with a human or animal?

To Test Bats in Contact with Humans - Contact Public Health Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology and Immunization Section at 206-296-4774 during regular work hours to determine if testing of bats is necessary . Public Health staff will authorize the testing of the bat for rabies. After hours health care providers can call Kelley's answering service at 206-682-7321 for medical advice.

To Test Bats in Contact with Animals - Consult your veterinarian for advice. The veterinarian may decide to send the bat to the Oregon State University Diagnostic laboratory for rabies testing. Veterinarians who need information about how to submit to submit animals for rabies testing can contact the Public Health Veterinarian at 206-296-4880.

What should I do if the bat is confirmed, or suspected, to be rabid and a direct exposure has occurred?

When a Human Has Been Exposed - Public Health recommends that the exposed person begin treatment to prevent rabies as soon as possible. Rabies preventive treatment includes five doses of rabies vaccine, and one dose of rabies immunoglobulin, given according to a fixed schedule over a 28 day time period.

The vaccination regimen is very safe and effective, but the vaccinations must be given on specific days. Rabies vaccinations can be given in most medical offices or clinics. Health care providers can order rabies vaccinations directly from the companies that make rabies vaccine. Some local emergency rooms carry both the rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine. Public Health does not carry the rabies immunoglobulin, but does carry rabies vaccine.

When a Dog, Cat, or Ferret Has Been Exposed - Dogs, cats, and ferrets that are currently vaccinated against rabies should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner's control, and observed for 45 days. Unvaccinated animals should either be humanely put to death or undergo a strict, and difficult to maintain, 6 month quarantine. These precautions must be taken because an animal can develop rabies as long as 6 months after the exposure. If the 6 month quarantine is chosen, vaccinate the animal 1 month before release from the quarantine.

What can I do to reduce the chance that my family or pets will come in direct contact with bats?

Bats found on the ground may be ill or simply immature flyers that are likely to fly away at dusk. If necessary, these bats can be moved to a quiet place where they will not come in contact with people or pets. Do not touch the bat with your bare hands.

Bats may enter homes accidentally or to live. If there are bats in a home, it is important to get them out to avoid possible exposures to rabies. A single bat most likely arrived through an open door or windows without screens. Multiple occurrences may indicate that additional steps are needed to keep the bats out of your home. Pest control services can help get rid of bats in the home. The following are services that are experienced with bat control: Northwest Nuisance Wildlife Control at 1-888-868-3063; Pest Control Northwest at 425-823-2676; Critter Control at 206-431-6833.

Vaccinate your pets to protect them against rabies. In King County, all dogs and cats are required to have rabies vaccinations by the time they are six months of age and a year later. Depending on the brand of vaccine used, dog and cat rabies vaccinations may be good for either one or three years. Veterinarians provide a written certificate when an animal has been vaccinated against rabies.