Two bats in Sat Lake County tested positive for rabies in the past week, according to the Salt Lake County Health Department.
A health department news release said one bat was found on Aug. 26 near Bingham Junction Park, at 1000 West and 6970 South in Midvale. The other was found Tuesday at Smith Fields Park, 13400 S. 200 East in Draper.
Health officials recommend that anyone who comes in contact with a bat should contact the department at 385-468-4222, to be evaluated for rabies prevention medication.
The two people who encountered the bat in Midvale were recommended such medication, the health department said. No one encountered the bat in Draper, officials said, but families who use the park often should ask their children if they encountered a bat — and, if necessary, contact the health department.
In humans, symptoms of rabies include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, increase in saliva, difficulty swallowing and fear of water, the department said. Once clinical signs of rabies appear, the department said, the disease is considered 100% fatal.
Rabies can appear in any wild animal, department officials said, and people typically contract the virus through a bite from an infected animal — but a person can become infected if saliva or brain matter from the animal gets into their eyes, nose, mouth or a wound. Feces, blood or urine from infected animals do not transmit the disease, health officials said.
If someone encounters a bat on the ground or in an unusual place, they should not touch it or try to catch it or harm it, health officials said. They also should keep children and pets away, and report the bat’s location to their local animal control agency.
Healthy bats typically avoid people, and only a small percentage of bats carry rabies, the department said. However, bats with rabies may behave unusually — and may look weak, enter areas they would usually avoid and may spend time on the ground, health officials said.
People must avoid contact with all wild bats, since only a lab test can determine if the animal is infected, the department said. Officials also urged people to keep their pets vaccines up to date, in case they encounter an animal that has rabies. Utah law requires pet dogs, cats and ferrets to be immunized against the virus.
Bats roosting on a home’s exterior and behaving normally are not a threat, and people should leave the animals alone, according to the release. Utah law protects all species of bats since they provide pest control and pollination, officials said.
If a bat is roosting in a home’s attic, the department urged people to contact a permitted wildlife control company for help — but if the animal has been inside a residence’s living area, contact the health department at 385-468-4222 to be evaluated for rabies prevention medication.
