Rabid bats bring warnings from health officials

The Daily Inter Lake

Two Montana residents in Missoula and Mineral counties have joined a Flathead family in treatment for rabies exposure from bats.

Jim Murphy, a disease surveillance specialist, issued an alert after three bats tested positive for rabies in Montana during one week.

"That's an unusually high number in such a short time," Murphy said.

He warned the public to avoid contact with bats, the most frequent carrier of rabies in Western Montana. In Eastern Montana, skunks join bats as the most-common carriers of rabies.

However, Murphy stressed that only about 1 percent of bats carry rabies. He described most bats as harmless and beneficial for controlling mosquitos and other insects.

Boni Stout, director of Community Health, echoed Murphy's comments.

"In light of West Nile virus, I'd like those mosquitoes to be eaten," she said.

Stout said health officials want people to avoid contact with bats, because saliva may contain the virus.

"There have been cases of rabies where the person wasn't bit," she said.

A viral disease, rabies attacks the central nervous system. If a bite or other contact with a wild animal occurs, health officials recommend washing the affected area thoroughly and getting medical attention immediately.

Residents should seek medical advice if they wake up in a room with a bat, find an unattended child in such a room or see an intoxicated or mentally impaired person near a bat.

Murphy said that the bat should be captured when possible and sent to the state laboratory for rabies testing. He recommends calling county animal control officials for assistance.

If a bat gets in the house and no person or pet has been exposed, close the doors to the room and leave windows open. Typically, the bat will leave on its own.

Stout also urged pet owners to keep their pets' rabies vaccinations current. Last year, several people found their pets playing with bats.

In some cases, officials have to destroy pets to determine whether rabies infection had occurred.