SAMMAMISH, Wash. — Health officials are warning the public after two bats found in Western Washington this month tested positive for rabies.
On Monday, Public Health – Seattle and King County officials said a Sammamish resident recently found a bat in their yard. The resident, who was wearing gardening gloves, picked the bat up and moved it from their yard. The bat was aggressive and bit the resident multiple times.
According to officials, the bat tested positive for rabies, and the resident started taking treatment to be protected from developing rabies. This was the first bat in King County that tested positive for rabies this year. Public Health said in 2020, that the department facilitated rabies testing for 45 bats that had contact with people, and five of the bats tested were rabid.
On Wednesday, officials with Thurston County Public Health & Social Services announced a bat that was found last week tested positive for rabies.
Health officials said a cat caught a bat and the owners sent the bat in for testing, which tested positive for rabies. The owner of the cat kept her pet’s rabies vaccinations up-to-date and she did not handle the bat with her bare hands, according to officials
Anyone who comes into contact with a bat should call their medical provider immediately and report the exposure to Public Health at 206-296-4774.
Officials are warning residents that as the weather warms up, bats will start to come out of hibernation.
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