Officials mum on report of rabid bat bite
Oct. 5—Public Health-Idaho North Central District is declining comment on an unconfirmed report that a person in Lewis County has been bitten by a rabid bat and is undergoing treatment.
Michael Wells, communications manager for the district, said in an email to the Lewiston Tribune on Wednesday that because of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), "Public Health does not provide specific patient information related to injury or treatment."
Leslie Tengelsen, Idaho state public health epidemiologist, also said she could not comment on an individual's medical treatment "although it is very reasonable to seek medical assistance after exposure to a rabid bat."
Dog and cat owners in the area, however, are being urged to make sure their animals are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations after three confirmed reports of rabid bats being found in north central Idaho.
The Ferdinand (Idaho) Veterinary Clinic recently posted on its Facebook page that there have been bats in the community and neighboring community that have tested "positive for rabies and several potential and confirmed exposures." The clinic stressed the importance of making sure all dogs and cats are up-to-date on their vaccinations, including indoor-only cats "because if you wake up and find a bat flying around the house the cat (and potentially you) is considered exposed. All mammals are susceptible to contracting the rabies virus; some species at higher risk than others."
Wells added that the health district is aware of three positive rabies test results for bats within the district this year, including one each in Latah, Lewis and Idaho counties.
Statewide there have been 14 confirmed reports of rabid bats so far. Last year Idaho County had the highest number of confirmed rabid bat reports with 10 out of a total 27 in the state — the highest number since 2007.
The Division of Public Health, Bureau of Laboratories is the only facility in Idaho that tests animals for rabies, according to the health and welfare website. Historically, rabid bats have been reported from most counties in Idaho and have been detected from March to November. Between 2008 and 2022 an average of 15 bats (range of 8-27) per year tested positive for rabies. Of all bat submissions, an average of 9.5% of annual bat submissions (range: 5% to 19.3%) tested positive for rabies. This percentage refers only to bats submitted for testing; the actual frequency of rabies in the overall bat population in Idaho is not known, but likely significantly lower.
A handful of other animal types in Idaho have also been documented with the "bat strain" of rabies virus. Because other mammals have tested positive for rabies, the risk of rabies exposure from bites, scratches, or other exposures to saliva and nervous tissue from mammals other than bats must not be ignored.
Hedberg may be contacted at khedberg@lmtribune.com.
