Update: Second Bat Tested Positive for Rabies in Chelan County

East Wenatchee, WA – Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) is alerting residents and visitors that a rabies positive bat was found Saturday, August 24^th at the Lake Shore RV Park in Chelan.

If you, your children, or your pets had contact with a bat in this area, seek medical care and call your local public health district.

CDHD has confirmed that on Saturday, August 24^th,a sick bat was found at the Lake Shore RV Park by campers who collected it and contacted public health. Because of concern for exposure to the campers who handled the bat, public health authorities submitted the bat to Washington State Public Health Laboratories. The test results returned positive for rabies on August 27, 2024. It is not known if the bat was present at the RV park prior to Saturday, August 24^th.

Rabies is a fatal disease in both animals and humans. Infection and death is preventable if appropriate medical care is received immediately after a rabies exposure. The rabies virus is found in the saliva and brain tissue of infected animals and can be spread to people by a bite or by saliva contact to mucous membranes (eye, nose, mouth), open cuts, or wounds. Any park visitor who had physical contact with any bat should call their local public health district and seek immediate medical attention.

Bats play an important role in our ecosystem. To promote awareness and safety, if you encounter a bat or other wildlife, Chelan-DouglasHealth District advises:

1) Observe wildlife from a distance:

• Do not touch or handle a wild animal, especially bats. 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. 

2) Do not handle not handle an injured bat:

• Contact animal control for assistance or your local public health district, or local authorities for further instructions.

3) If a bat is in your home or an indoor space:

• Never handle a bat with your bare hands. Call your local health department so they can help determine if the bat needs to be tested for rabies and follow their instructions on how-to safely capture a bat.

4) Learn About Bats:

• The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife’s webpage on Living with wildlife: Bats | Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and the Washington State Department of Health’s Rabies Activities page: Rabies Activity in Washington | Washington State Department of Health are great resources. These resources provide valuable information on both bat behavior and rabies prevention.

5) If you are bitten or scratched by a bat:

• Seek medical attention immediately. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Chelan-Douglas Health District encourages the public to leave bats alone if they are outside in the open, Don't Touch Bats Poster (wa.gov). Keep bats out of your living space by bat-proofing your home. To learn more about rabies, please visit our webpage: Rabies(wa.gov).

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