A bat found on a sidewalk near the University of Washington tested positive for rabies, Public Health - Seattle & King County officials said.
The bat was found Wednesday, July 15, on University Way Northeast, between Northeast 41st and Northeast 42nd streets, near Parrington Lawn. The bat tested positive Friday.
Anybody who may have come into contact with the bat or its saliva, even if not through a bite, is recommended to call Public Health at 206-296-4774 to determine if rabies preventive treatment is necessary and to seek medical evaluation. Once symptoms kick in, rabies is life-threatening.
Rabies is treatable if caught before symptoms appear, so identifying anyone who has had contact with the bat as soon as possible is important," said Dr. Jocelyn Mullins, a veterinarian at the public health department. "Contact includes touching a bat, being bitten or scratched or having any other bare skin contact with a bat or its saliva."
If a pet might have had contact with the bat, a veterinarian should be contacted. Dogs, cats, ferrets and horses should be current on their rabies vaccines but will need to be revaccinated if they had contact with an infected animal.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first rabies symptoms include "weakness, discomfort, fever or headache" and "discomfort, prickling, or an itching sensation at the site of the bite.
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