Health officials see upswing in rabies encounters

Flathead City-County Health Department officials said this week they are beginning to see an increase in the number of reported contacts and interactions between domestic animals, humans and rabies-prone animals.

A news release from the health department highlighted instances involving skunks and bats, in particular, stating the recent uptick in reports "is an excellent reminder that rabies continues to pose a risk to pets and people."

While not all bats and skunks have rabies, the species are known to be common carriers. In order to know for certain if an animal is infected, it must be made available for testing.

If the animal believed to be a carrier has had contact with a domestic animal or a human, the health department will cover the cost of the rabies testing.

However, if a bat or skunk is not available for testing and a person or domestic animal has been bitten, scratched or has been in direct contact, it is considered a "rabies exposure," and the health department urges appropriate follow-up.

That includes post-exposure prophylaxis for humans, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states "consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine given on the day of the rabies exposure, and then a dose of vaccine given again on days three, seven and 14."

The health department said bats are of special concern because a bite from the species may go unnoticed. If a bat is found in an area where contact may have occurred, but has gone undetected — such as a bedroom with a sleeping adult or child — it should be tested for rabies as well.

In order to ensure the health department can test a bat or a skunk for rabies, the animal's brain and head must be intact and refrigerated — not frozen — until it is sent for testing.

Further instructions on how to safely capture a bat for testing can be found at flatheadhealth.org under the "Health Alerts" section. The department also can be reached at 406-751-8110.