A rabid bat was found at the school in Asotin, and several children came in contact with it.
According to the Asotin County Health District, it was found Wednesday and multiple children had confirmed, direct contact with the bat. A school administrator quickly contacted them for guidance. The bat was safely captured and taken to a local veterinarian to be euthanized and then submitted for rabies testing. Yesterday, they confirmed it was positive for rabies.
They’re now working with the school district and local hospitals to inform families and initiate post-exposure treatment for children with confirmed exposure.
The Health District says Rabies is a viral infection that is almost 100% fatal. Exposure to a rabid animal is taken extremely seriously. Rabies can be prevented but cannot be treated once symptoms start. Treatment, known as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for rabies requires a series of four vaccinations given over 14 days plus a dose of rabies immunoglobulin with the first vaccination to boost the body’s immune response.
The incubation period of rabies can range from several days to several months. While it is best to begin PEP soon after exposure, it can be started up to a year after exposure if the person has not developed symptoms of rabies.
Rabies is spread through a bite or scratch from an animal or contact with the animal’s saliva. It is not spread through the air or by casual contact with items or surfaces touched by the rabid animal (e.g., touching the grass after the bat was removed is not an exposure). Bat bites and scratches are very small, and you may be unaware of them. Therefore, any bare- hand contact with a bat should be treated as an exposure.
