SKAGIT COUNTY, WA (KGMI.COM) – Skagit County Public Health says a resident was exposed to rabies after they recently handled a bat with their bare hands.
The resident found the bat laying in their back yard and was scratched after picking it up. They reported the incident, and Public Health sent the animal to a lab where it tested positive for rabies.
Bats are the only known mammal in Washington to carry rabies and can spread the disease to other mammals including humans. Rabies can be fatal to humans if not treated immediately.
Skagit Public Health says bats found on the ground may be ill and should be left alone. If you do have direct contact with a bat, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately and report it to the your local public health department.
