A rabid bat puts family in treatment

A bat in a minivan prompted a local family to seek treatment for rabies exposure.

The Flathead bat was one of three bats to test positive for rabies during the last week at the state livestock laboratory in Bozeman. The other bats were discovered in Mineral and Missoula counties.

Kelly Toman, who lives near Columbia Falls, said he doesn't know how or where the rabid bat got in the vehicle.

The bat was noticed clinging to a blanket after it was unloaded into the home after a July 10 family outing, he said.

"It was alive and moving around," Toman said.

He described it as about 3 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Toman captured the bat in a jar. He soon realized he erred in not putting on gloves, because the bat had been biting and licking the blanket.

"I've got mechanic's fingers," Toman said, referring to numerous scrapes and cuts on his fingers.

Toman called Flathead County Animal Control to pick up the bat. Because the bat was captured alive, the state laboratory had test results after just a few days.

When told about the positive test, Toman said the van's occupants began treatment for possible rabies exposure.

"There were snacks in the car, and the kids were passing the food back and forth," he said.

Toman said his sister felt a prick on her finger during the July 10 outing. He said he didn't know whether that incident was bat-related, but the bat had several claws that may have caused the finger prick.

"The bite is so small that you don't even notice it," he said.

Because of the bat's tiny bite, Montana officials recommend treatment for anyone who wakes up to find a bat in the room, or for mentally impaired or intoxicated people in a room with a bat.

Toman and four others received the series of five vaccinations. He said that he and his wife saw no other option, particularly for the children.

"It's a life-and-death gamble," he said.

On Wednesday, Toman said the family was about half way through the series. Treatment began with a booster shot of human rabies immune globulin.

Toman called it an accelerator treatment that provides short-term protection against the virus while the rabies vaccine triggers an immune response in the body.

He said the treatment was not painful and that no one should hesitate to take the shots after a possible rabies exposure.

"It's just a hassle more than anything else," he said.

Toman said his mother had to endure a much more painful treatment years ago after she was bitten by a rabid cat.

"At that time, it was 12 shots, and the first one was in the stomach," he said.

Because of his mother's experience, Toman knew that he needed to keep the bat alive for a quick test result from the bat's brain serum. He said people should wear thick gloves when handling a bat.

"I would not be taking shots if I had put on gloves," Toman said.

He admits he briefly thought about not getting the treatment for himself.

"My wife said 'You will get the shots,'" Toman said with a laugh. "The boss won."

He still has no idea how the bat entered the car, though he said the van's sliding doors provide a large opening.

Toman said he shared his family's story to help others know what to do if confronted with a similar situation.

"The main thing is just awareness," he said.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.