Three Utah bats test positive for rabies

SALT LAKE CITY — Three Utah bats have tested positive for rabies in Central Utah, according to the area’s health department. 

In a post on Facebook, the Central Utah Health Department said one bat was in Millard County, Sanpete County and Juab County.

 

The department is instructing people to avoid making direct contact with any bats, as they are carriers of the deadly disease. 

If you or your pet touches or gets scratched or bitten by a bat, contact the nearest animal control center, health department or the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 

Furthermore, if a bat gets into your home, contain it in one room by closing interior doors. Open any windows or doors that lead outside and allow it to fly out. 

If it does not leave, contact the DWR or pest control. 

Rabies is deadly

According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, rabies impacts the nervous system. Most of the time, it is fatal. 

Early human symptoms include pain, fatigue, headache, and fever. As the disease progresses, victims may become agitated, irritable or depressed, and may develop insomnia. 

In the latest stages, people experiencing rabies experience hallucinations, paralysis, disorientation, seizures and fear of swallowing liquids. 

After symptoms develop, they can’t be reversed. 

The virus disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate bodily functions, like breathing and heart rate. 

In animals, early signs include aggression or meekness. They might appear as if they do not fear humans. 

Read more: Bats are active right now. Here’s how you can keep them out of your house