Oregon has seen its first positive case of bat rabies in 2020. It was discovered after an infected bat had a recent “run in” with a resident in South Eugene.
The person was in their back yard around dusk on May 27th, when a bat flew directly into them. The stunned animal was gathered up and sent to the Oregon State Veterinary Lab where the presence of rabies was detected.
Health officials report the person who had contact with the bat has received a post-exposure treatment as a preventative measure.
Rabies is common in the state’s bat population. Recent data suggests the viral disease can be transmitted from minor, even unrecognized bites. If a person has direct exposure to a bat, the animal should be collected with a utensil if possible, contained and submitted for rabies diagnosis.
To minimize risk, Lane County Public Health recommends making sure windows have screens, being aware of when and where bats feed and vaccinating pets for rabies.
It’s important to note, bats are considered crucial to the ecosystem and should not be targeted or proactively killed.
