Two rabid bats found near Great Plains Zoo farm in Sioux Falls
The South Dakota Department of Health is asking anyone that may have recently made contact with bats to contact health officials, after the Great Plains Zoo found two bats that tested positive for rabies on its campus.
Denise DePaolo, the zoo's director of PR and marketing, told the Argus Leader the bats were found in a public tunnel near the zoo's tortoise exhibit Sunday.
DePaolo said the bats were noticed early on in the day by seasonal employees and the area was quickly cordoned off to prevent people from approaching the area.
"I'm sure, to a bat, it's a great place to hang out," DePaolo said.
The animals were removed from the zoo and transferred to the zoo's veterinary clinic before being sent to the South Dakota State University Diagnostic Laboratory for examination and rabies testing, the release continues.
DePaolo said the zoo's animals as well as veterinary team members are routinely vaccinated against rabies. She added the staff who captured the infected bats were also vaccinated and wore proper personal protective equipment while handling the animals.
'We're confident that our animals are protected against this. We have no reason to believe these bats had contact with our animals and anyone else. And, as we know, it's bat season, so these things are happening all over the place," DePaolo said.
More: Sioux Falls bats are being found with rabies. Here's how to protect your pets.
DOH is asking people that may have been exposed to bats to contact the DOH at 1-800-592-1861, as well as their medical provider.
“Animal rabies infections occur each year, with bats making up the majority of animals testing positive,” State Epidemiologist Josh Clayton said in the DOH release. “If exposed, prompt follow-up with your medical provider to start the four-dose treatment is critical to prevent human rabies.”
According to DOH, South Dakota has reported 10 rabid animals through the end of July 2023. The animals include eight bats, one skunk and one cow. Since 2013, 79 bats have tested positive for rabies in the state.
More information about rabies can be found on the Department of Health website.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Great Plains Zoo staff remove 2 rabid bats near campus farm
