Bat found in Deschutes County tests positive for rabies

Deschutes County Public Health urges residents to take necessary precautions to protect their families and pets after a cat caught a bat that tested positive for rabies in Bend last week.

Rabies is a serious viral disease that can be transmitted to humans and pets through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. While a post-exposure vaccination is effective, the best way to avoid rabies is to take the following precautions:

• Avoid physical contact with bats - healthy, sick, alive, or dead. Be sure to keep children and pets away from bats.
• Do not hand-feed or handle stray animals and wildlife.
• Vaccinate pets - to protect your pets, make sure their rabies vaccinations are up to date.

Oregon law requires rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats.

• First vaccination: between 3-6 months of age
• First booster: 1 year later
• Ongoing boosters: every 3 years

Unvaccinated pets suspected of exposure must be euthanized or placed under a strict four-month quarantine.

Bats play a valuable role in our ecosystem. While they do not all carry rabies, bats are the most commonly reported animal to have rabies in the U.S., so it is important to avoid any contact with them. If you see a bat that is active during the day, indoors, or on the ground unable to fly, move children and pets to safety and c0ntact the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) at (541) 388-6363 or contact a local Wildlife Control Operator .

If a person or pet does come in physical contact with a bat or is bitten by an animal, promptly report it to Deschutes County Animal Control at (541) 693-6911 or Deschutes County Environmental Health at (541) 317-3114.

For more information about rabies, please refer to resources from the Oregon Health Authority and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

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Media Contact:

Eric Mone, Deschutes County Environmental Health

(541) 388-6566)