Department of Health Offers Tips to Help Prevent Rabies

Seasonal animal activity is prompting the Wyoming Department of Health to issue a warning about the ongoing threat posed by rabies, a deadly but preventable disease. Any mammal, including humans, can get rabies; in Wyoming, bats and skunks are the primary sources and can spread rabies to people and pets by bites or scratches.

State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Emily Curren said there have been three confirmed rabies cases in Sheridan County skunks this year. Last year, there were 14 confirmed cases of animal rabies throughout Wyoming, including five in bats. Curren said bats are a particular concern because their bites can be very tiny and not always visible and that anyone with direct contact with a bat or anyone sleeping in the same room where a bat is found should be assessed by a doctor or public health provider. Curren also suggested bats that come into contact with humans or found in a sleeping area should be carefully captured if it can be done safely so that rabies testing can be performed.

Curren said general tips for preventing rabies include not touching or feeding wild or stray animals; treat animal bites with soap and water and contact a medical professional immediately; anyone waking to find a bat in their room or in their child’s room should contact a medical professional immediately. Curren added that people should vaccinate dogs, cats, ferrets, horses and other selected livestock for rabies and keep vaccinations up-to-date. More information about rabies exposure in Wyoming can be found here.