CDC Warns of Rising Rabies Exposures in 8 States as Inquiries Jump 17%

Q: What invisible danger might you face if you wake up with a bat in your room, even without a visible bite?

You could have been exposed to rabies from a bat bite or scratch so small you never felt it or saw it while sleeping. That is why health officials treat waking up with a bat in the room as a possible rabies exposure even without a visible wound. Bat bites can be tiny, and saliva exposure can also matter if it reaches broken skin or mucous membranes. Because rabies attacks the nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, officials say not to wait for signs of illness. The practical advice is to seek medical evaluation right away. If possible, safely confine or capture the bat without touching it with bare hands so it can be tested, since that can help determine whether post-exposure treatment is needed. Immediate wound washing and timely rabies post-exposure prophylaxis are highly effective before symptoms appear. In short, the invisible danger is an unnoticed rabies exposure.

2 articles · Updated · KY3 · Sep 14

Eight states have reported increases in exposure to rabid or potentially rabid animals since July, prompting a CDC warning as Missouri officials urge residents to avoid suspicious wildlife and vaccinate pets.
A 17% rise in rabies-related CDC inquiries from July through August, along with rabid bats recently found in Greene County, underscored concern even though Taney County has no confirmed case this year.
Rabies attacks the nervous system and is nearly 100% fatal once symptoms appear, so health officials said people should seek medical evaluation immediately after any possible exposure rather than wait for signs of illness.
Bats and skunks are common rabies carriers in Missouri, and warning signs can include daytime activity in nocturnal animals, aggression or loss of balance; any warm-blooded animal can carry the virus.