EVERETT, Wash. — A bat that flew into a rural home in Snohomish County tested positive for rabies.
Three people exposed to the bat are receiving rabies preventative treatment.
Snohomish County health officials said the bat flew into a home where it was caught and taken to a wildlife center the next day for testing.
The Washington State Public Health Laboratory on Wednesday confirmed the bat was positive for rabies.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system and is almost always fatal if not treated promptly.
Humans can contract the disease through bites or scratches from infected animals. In Washington state, bats are the only known natural carriers of the disease.
Other animals, including unvaccinated pets such as dogs and cats, can also become infected if exposed to rabies.
Health officials say as the temperatures warm up, people spend more time outdoors, and it increases their chances of encountering a bat.
Last summer, the Spokane Regional Health District sent out messaging about what to do if you encounter a bat.
– Do not handle wild animals, especially bats.
– Do not keep wild animals as pets.
– Teach children never to touch or handle bats, even dead ones. Have children tell an adult if they find a bat at home, at school, or with a pet.
– If outside in the evening or entering structures frequented by bats, cover up with a head covering and clothing.
Contact a health care provider, under the following circumstances, even in the absence of an obvious bite or scratch:
– A bat is found in a room or had access to a room with a sleeping person (e.g.bedroom door open to a hallway).
– A bat is found in a room with an unattended child.
– A bat is found in a room with a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or who has another sensory or mental impairment.
– A bat is found near a child outside.
According to the Washington State Dept. of Health, the only other confirmed case of a bat with rabies in 2026 was in Lewis County, in January.
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