Rabies: Bats Positive for Rabies in Medford, Multnomah County; Cat Who Contacted Bat in Multnomah County Euthanized
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Rabies is an infectious viral disease that affects the nervous system. It is transmitted by a bite or saliva from a rabid animal.
Worldwide, about one person every 10 minutes dies of rabies, mostly in Africa and Asia. Although human rabies is rare in the United States, where there are typically only two or three cases per year, animal bites are very common. As a result, thousands of people each year receive rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP. The recommended treatment is four shots given in the first two weeks after exposure on days 0, 3, 7 and 14.
Rabies in Oregon
Bats
Oregon health officials are reporting that a bat in Multnomah County tested positive for rabies on May 15. The bat was found by a woman who noticed a cat playing with a bat. The woman picked up the bat and was bit. The cat was euthanized. This is the second bat to test positive for rabies in 2012, and the first one in Multnomah County since 2008.
The first positive bat of 2012 was a bat found inside a Medford home on May 11. Last year in Oregon, 11 bats, five foxes and one coyote tested positive for rabies.
This is a reminder to avoid bats that appear to be sick, flopping around, or behaving unusually, as well as to keep your pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations.
In particular, as the recent case in Multnomah County reinforces, make sure your cats are vaccinated, as cats come into contact with bats far more often than other pets and, if not vaccinated, may have to be euthanized after such contact.
Most human exposures to bat rabies are a result of handling a sick bat. Humans should avoid picking up what appear to be sick or injured bats, or bats found in daylight hours.
Other Animals
In 2010 and early 2011, Oregon identified numerous cases of animal rabies in Southern Oregon's Josephine County, including several cases of rabies in a coyote and foxes. Other than this geographic cluster, bats are the primary carriers of rabies in Oregon.
In the past 50+ years, no raccoons have tested positive for rabies in Oregon. Raccoons can, and do, contract canine distemper, and can display neurologic symptoms similar to rabies.
Statistics by County
If You Are Bitten
If you are bitten by any animal—even a household pet—and especially if the bite is from a wild animal, such as a bat, it is important to clean the wound and then consult with your health care provider immediately.
If you are scratched or bitten by a bat, immediately clean the wound. If the bat has been captured, do not crush the bat or throw it away, as intact bats can be tested for rabies, which can help you avoid post exposure rabies shots (PEP).
According to the law, dogs, cats or ferrets that bite humans should be quarantined for 10 days. If any other animal bites a human, euthanasia and rabies testing of the animal is recommended.
Oregon State and County Law Requires Rabies Vaccination for Pets
Dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets should be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccinating pets not only protects them but it provides a “buffer zone” between humans and rabid wild animals. Oregon law requires all dogs to be vaccinated against rabies as early as three months of age. In addition, Multnomah County requires all cats to be vaccinated for rabies.
Oregon law requires that unvaccinated pets that may have been in contact with rabid animals to be quarantined for six months or euthanized. The contact animal, such as a bat, is considered rabid unless it is tested and is negative.
Vaccinated dogs, cats, rabbits, and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal should be revaccinated immediately, kept under the owner's control, and observed for 45 days. Any illness in an isolated or confined animal should be reported immediately to the local health department. If signs suggestive of rabies develop, the animal should be euthanized and tested.
Why It's Very Important to Vaccinate Cats
Nationally, twice as many cats as dogs are reported to have rabies each year, which is why it’s important to vaccinate your cats for rabies. Cats are natural predators and may be attracted to bats, which could be rabid. Cats come into contact with bats far more often than other pets and, if not vaccinated, may have to be euthanized after such contact.
Do Not Pick Up or Touch Bats
Bats play an important role in the ecosystem, especially in controlling insects at night. They are an important insect predator; they often eat mosquitoes and can catch over 1,000 tiny insects in an hour. Bats emerge from hibernation in early spring and remain active until late fall; they are most active in warm weather.
Most often, humans are exposed to rabies by picking up a what seems to be a sick or injured bat. If you find a bat during daylight hours, it is most likely unhealthy and should be avoided.
Anyone bitten by a bat should be vaccinated for rabies immediately if the bat is not available for testing. Cats increase the risk by playing with bats and taking them into homes.
If you are scratched or bitten by a bat, immediately clean the wound. If the bat has been captured, do not crush the bat or throw it away, as intact bats can be tested for rabies, which can avoid post exposure rabies shots.
Every year about 10 percent of the bats tested for rabies test positive for the disease. Bats are tested for rabies only when a person or a pet has had physical contact with them.
Interested in learning more about Oregon bats?
Consider Vaccination for Horses
While the incidence of rabies is low, the disease is invariably fatal in horses. Because of this, and the risk to public health, the American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends rabies vaccinations for horses. Consult with your veterinarian about vaccination protocols for your horse.
Tips to Keep Your Family Safe
- Vaccinate your pets.
- Watch wildlife from a distance. Don’t approach or attempt to handle wild animals.
- Do not feed wild animals.
- Keep garbage in secure containers and away from wildlife.
- Feed pets indoors.
- Seal openings in attics, basements, porches, sheds, barns and screen chimneys that might provide access to bats and other wildlife.
