Idaho Confirms 1 Rabid Bat in Mackay, Urges Immediate Exposure Checks

Q: Why do health officials warn that even your strictly indoor pets are at severe risk from Idaho's flying rabies reservoirs?

Even strictly indoor pets are considered at real risk because Idaho’s rabies reservoir is bats, and bats routinely get inside homes, cabins and garages through tiny openings or open windows and doors. Health officials note bats can squeeze through gaps as small as a quarter inch, so an animal that never goes outside can still encounter one indoors. The danger is compounded by how easy bat exposures are to miss. A sick bat may be unable to fly well and may end up on the floor, where a dog or cat can mouth it or play with it. Bat bites and scratches can be so small, painless and hard to see that owners may never realize contact happened. Public health agencies warn that pets can then become the bridge back to humans. That is why Idaho officials stress vaccination even for indoor dogs, cats, ferrets and horses. In Idaho, bats are the only known natural reservoir of rabies, no part of the state is considered rabies-free, and the state detects rabid bats every year. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms start, but preventive action after exposure is highly effective. If a pet may have touched a bat, owners should contact a veterinarian or local public health officials immediately, regardless of vaccination status. If it can be done safely, the bat should be saved intact for free rabies testing when exposure is possible.

Q: Could a tiny, painless scratch from a hidden bat in your home be a silent death sentence if ignored?

Yes. A tiny, painless scratch or bite from a bat can be life-threatening if it transmits rabies and the exposure is ignored. That is why Idaho health officials warn that bat bites and scratches may be so small they leave little or no visible mark and may not hurt. In Idaho, bats are the only known natural reservoir for rabies, and no part of the state is considered rabies-free. The state typically detects around 15 rabid bats a year, so a confirmed rabid bat in eastern Idaho fits a known recurring risk. The key medical fact is timing. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, but post-exposure treatment is nearly 100% effective if started promptly after a possible exposure. That is why officials say anyone who touched a bat, was scratched or bitten by one, or woke up to find one in a room should seek medical advice immediately. The same applies if a bat was near a child, a sleeping person, or a pet, because contact may have gone unnoticed. If a bat may have exposed a person or pet, do not release it. If it can be done safely, preserve it for rabies testing using thick gloves and a container; testing is free in possible exposure cases in eastern Idaho. Residents can call Eastern Idaho Public Health at (208) 533-3152 for guidance. Officials also urge keeping dogs, cats, ferrets, and horses vaccinated and bat-proofing homes, since bats can enter through very small openings.

3 articles · Updated · East Idaho News · Aug 13

Eastern Idaho Public Health said a bat found in Mackay tested positive for rabies, triggering a warning for anyone who touched a bat or woke up with one in a room.
Rabies is fatal once symptoms begin, the agency said, but post-exposure vaccination is nearly 100% effective if people seek care quickly after a possible bite or scratch.
Bats are the only natural rabies reservoir in Idaho, and eastern Idaho records at least one rabid bat each season; officials said bites can be tiny and go unnoticed, even during sleep.
Health officials urged residents not to handle bats barehanded, to save a bat for testing only with thick gloves, and to keep dogs, cats, ferrets and horses vaccinated because sick bats can expose pets.