https://www.facebook.com/758091889665041/posts/932327702241458
Island County Commissioner Janet St. Clair (D-Camano Island) posted this to his Facebook page on .
Important information as you hike, camp and play outside this summer.
Public Alert: Bat on Whidbey Island found to have rabies
Following the discovery of a bat that tested positive for rabies in North Whidbey, Island County Public Health is reminding people to exercise caution when encountering wild animals.
On Thursday Aug. 1, a Whidbey Island resident discovered a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) outside their home. A second county resident was exposed to rabies through a small bite received from the bat. That resident is receiving appropriate post-exposure vaccination and is doing well.
The bat in question was brought into Island County Public Health and was found to be positive for rabies. Between 3-10% of bats submitted for testing are found to be rabid. Bats tested for rabies are more likely to test positive for rabies because they tend to be sick or to come into contact with a person or other animal. Less than 1% of bats in the wild are infected with rabies.
In this and other disease control efforts, Island County Public Health is committed to collaborating with healthcare and prevention partners across the county.
Bats are an important part of our ecosystem, but they can also carry rabies and people should avoid contact with them. In Washington, they are the only known mammal to carry rabies, but can transmit rabies to other mammals in the state. This is the fourth case of bat rabies reported in Washington state this year. https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/rabies/rabies-activity-washington
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) offers the following tips for avoiding exposure to rabies:
• Do not touch or handle wild animals, especially bats, and teach your children never to touch or handle bats, even dead ones
• Have your children tell an adult if they find a bat at home, at school, or with a pet. If you see a wild animal, leave it alone
• Report wildlife observations or ill or dead animals to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife; https://wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/report-observations
• Do not feed wild animals or try to keep them as pets
• Keep bats out of your living space by bat-proofing your home, and
• Protect your pets and yourself by getting them vaccinated against rabies on a schedule recommended by a veterinarian. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are required to be up to date on the rabies vaccine in Washington state. https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/illness-and-disease-z/rabies/rabies-vaccination-requirements-pets
Find local prevention and contact information by visiting the Island County Public Health Rabies and Zoonotic Disease webpage https://www.islandcountywa.gov/624/Zoonotics-and-Rabies
If you find a bat in your living space or believe you or a family member may have touched a bat, or have been bitten or scratched by one, wash the area with soap and water. Contact your medical provider and call Island County Public Health at 360-679-7350.
Learn more about how to safely capture a bat. https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/Documents/Pubs/420-190-BatTransportInstructions.pdf
On its website, the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife offers information about Living with Wildlife: Bats. https://wdfw.wa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/00605/wdfw00605.pdf
• For more information, contact Jamie Hamilton at J.Hamilton@islandcountywa.gov
