Bat found in Pioneer Park tests positive for rabies

SALT LAKE CITY — A bat found in Pioneer Park tested positive for rabies on October 1 said the Salt Lake County Health Department. 

Per a press release, the bat was found in the park on Sept. 27. 

After people assumed to be experiencing homelessness reported the bat, it was captured and removed by Salt Lake County Animal Services. Some of the people in Pioneer Park reported “[handling] the bat, potentially for an extended period.” 

The Salt Lake County Health Department officials said they were handing out flyers in Pioneer Park Wednesday afternoon. They are also trying to locate those who had contact with the bat, as they will need medication to prevent a rabies infection. 

Additionally, the county health department is working with some of its partners to inform those who use Pioneer Park about the situation. 

What if you touched a bat?

Salt Lake County Health officials said that if you touched a bat in or around Pioneer Park, you should call 385-468-4222 and then select option 4. Those answering the phone will help you receive an evaluation for medication to prevent a rabies infection. 

Alternatively, those who touched a bat can visit the Fourth Street Clinic or an emergency room for an evaluation. 

Rabies can be transmitted through bites and scratches produced by animals, and through saliva or brain matter entering a recipient’s body. Salt Lake County Health officials said bat scratches can be so small that their recipient may not know they have them. 

The health department said that, when given after an exposure, treatment is “extremely effective” in preventing rabies. However, a qualified person must administer the shot before symptoms begin. 

Rabies symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, paralysis, hallucinations, increased saliva, difficulty swallowing, and fear of water. Officials said that after rabies symptoms appear, it is 100% fatal. 

Are bats dangerous?

According to the United States Geological Survey, healthy bats are not dangerous. They often avoid humans. 

Fewer than 1% of bats contract rabies. However, they should not be handled or disturbed, especially if they appear sick or active during the day. 

Although few bats have the disease, the Salt Lake County Health Department advises people not to touch wild animals. Rabies tests can only be carried out after an animal has died. 

Utah law protects all animal species, as they are important to the state’s environment and ecosystems. If a bat lives in your attic, the health department said you should contact a pest control company for help. 

Related: Fungus that causes deadly white-nose syndrome in bats found in Utah