State and local public health officials are reminding Montanans to be aware of the risk for exposure to rabies as summer approaches. From 2009 to 2015, 162 animals submitted for testing to the Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) were positive for rabies. Most of the animals were bats, some were skunks, and a few were other wild and domestic animals.
Rabies is a fatal disease. The rabies virus is carried in the saliva of infected warm-blooded mammals and is usually transmitted to people and other animals through a bite. Bats are a great concern in Montana because a bite may not be noticeable. Encounters between humans and wild animals often increase in spring and summer months because of the time spent hiking and engaging in other outdoor activities.
Rabies can be prevented by avoiding contact with wild animals and seeking preventive treatment if you think you have been exposed. If a wild animal cannot be located or submitted for testing, a person may need to undergo a series of shots to prevent disease. In 2015, administration of treatment to prevent infection was recommended to nearly 200 individuals. If someone is bitten by a domestic dog, cat or ferret, the animal can be observed, avoiding the series of shots.
“Any bat that has physical contact with a person, or is found in an area where contact may have occurred but gone undetected, such as a bedroom with a sleeping adult or child, should be tested for rabies when possible,” says Elton Mosher, an epidemiologist with the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). “Do not damage the head of the bat, because the brain is needed for the rabies test.”
DPHHS and DOL remind everyone of the following rabies prevention tips:
• Do not feed or handle wild animals, especially bats. Teach children never to touch wild animals or handle bats, even dead ones. Ask children to tell an adult if they see or find a bat.
• Vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies. Cats are especially susceptible to rabies exposure as a result of more contact with wild animals than dogs. All dogs and cats should have a current rabies certificate.
• Bat-proof your house. Bats must not be allowed in living areas of your home. Put screens on all windows, doors and chimneys to prevent bats from entering. You can prevent bats from roosting in attics or buildings by covering outside entry points, loosely hanging clear plastic sheeting or bird netting over these areas. Bats crawl out and leave, but cannot re-enter. To avoid trapping any young bats who will die or try to make their way into your rooms, seal the openings permanently after August or in the fall after bats have left for the season.
• Watch for abnormal wild animal behavior. Most wild animals avoid humans and seeing skunks and bats during the daytime is rare. If you see an animal acting strangely, leave it alone and contact law enforcement or an animal control agency if you think it may pose a danger.
“If you or your child has any contact with a bat or find a bat in your home, or are bitten or scratched by any wild or stray animal, contact your health care provider for appropriate follow- up,” Mosher added.
For additional information on rabies visit the DPHHS website at http://www.dphhs.gov or contact your local health department, DOL at (406) 444-9761 or the DPHHS at (406) 444-0273.
