LEWISTON, ID — Public Health – Idaho North Central District is urging residents to use caution after laboratory testing confirmed that bats in Nez Perce County have tested positive for rabies. Health officials say rabid bats have been identified throughout much of Idaho over the years, including in north central Idaho.

While rabies is rare in humans, the disease is almost always fatal once symptoms develop. Public health officials said human infections are typically linked to exposure to rabid bats, but prompt medical treatment following a potential exposure is highly effective at preventing the disease.

Rabies is spread through the saliva of infected mammals, usually by a bite or scratch. Although all warm-blooded animals can become infected, bats are the most common source of rabies in Idaho. Animals infected with rabies may display unusual behavior, including increased drooling, aggression, difficulty swallowing, or appearing unusually tame or slow. Idaho averages more than 15 confirmed rabid bat reports each year.

Health officials encourage owners to keep dogs, cats, ferrets and horses up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Vaccinating pets helps protect both animals and their owners if a pet encounters a rabid animal.

Public Health said people most often come into contact with bats when a pet brings home a sick or dead bat or when a bat enters a home through an open window or small opening. Officials also caution that anyone who wakes up to find a bat in their room may have been exposed without realizing it, as bat bites can be so small they go unnoticed. In those situations, the bat should be tested for rabies if there is any possibility of exposure.

Residents are advised not to handle wounded or dead bats with bare hands. Anyone who has had direct contact with a bat should seek medical attention immediately. If a person or pet has come into contact with a bat, officials recommend safely containing the bat without touching it and contacting Public Health to arrange rabies testing. The bat must be dead and have been involved in a human or pet exposure to be tested. Public Health also recommends sealing openings in homes and maintaining tight-fitting window screens to help keep bats out.

For more information, residents can contact Public Health – Idaho North Central District at 208-799-3100.