EVERETT—Three Snohomish County residents were exposed to a bat that tested positive for rabies this week and are now receiving rabies preventive treatment, Snohomish County Health Department announced Friday. It’s the first positive rabies test for a bat in the county since 2023.
The rabid bat flew into a private home Sunday night in rural eastern Snohomish County, where it was captured and taken to a wildlife center the following day. Test results from the Washington State Public Health Laboratory on Wednesday, May 27, revealed the bat was positive for rabies.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal if not treated promptly. Humans can contract the disease through bites or scratches from infected animals. In Washington state, bats are the only known natural carriers of the disease. Other animals, including unvaccinated pets such as dogs and cats, can also become infected if exposed to rabies.
Fewer than one percent of wild bats carry the rabies virus. In Snohomish County, six bats have tested positive for the disease over the last 10 years. This week’s rabid bat was the second positive case so far this year in Washington state.
The three people exposed to the bat are receiving treatment that includes a series of rabies vaccine shots and a dose of human rabies immune globulin, which provides immediate antibodies while the vaccine starts working. The treatment is nearly 100 percent effective in preventing rabies.
Bat season has begun
Many bats have recently emerged from their long winter hibernation just as warmer weather arrives and many residents leave their doors and windows open. As people spend more time outdoors, it also increases their chances of encountering a bat.
“Bat season has officially started,” said Susan Babcock, a public health nurse with the Snohomish County Health Department’s prevention services division. “Be respectful of bats and other wildlife by avoiding touching or handling them.”
If you find a bat in your home and are concerned about a possible human or pet exposure, call your local health department. In Snohomish County, that number is 425-339-3503.
Rabies prevention
- You can bat-proof your home by sealing small holes in siding or roofing, capping chimneys, using screens on windows and vents, and keeping doors to the outside fully closed.
- Make sure all pets are up to date on rabies vaccines. It could save their lives.
- When cleaning an attic, barn, outbuilding or cabin where bats may be present, wear leather gloves, long sleeves and pants, and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Only capture bats that have had direct contact with a person or pet, were in a room where you were sleeping, or were in a room with a child. Never handle bats with bare hands. For tips on how to safely capture a bat, see this tipsheet from the Washington State Department of Health.
Remember that bats aren’t really the bad guys. Only a tiny percentage carry the rabies virus and they’re great for the environment. They’re not only nocturnal pollinators, they also eat tons of insects each evening such as mosquitoes.
Source: Snohomish County Health Department
Author: Mario Lotmore
