Rabid Bat Turns Up In Boulder County

From Boulder County: A bat found last week in the south-east portion of Longmont near Erie has tested positive for rabies. The bat was found in a resident’s yard with the family dogs. Fortunately, the dogs were up-to-date on their vaccinations.

This serves as a reminder of the possibility of the spread of animal diseases, including rabies, plague, tularemia, hantavirus, and West Nile virus (WNV), which can all be dangerous to humans and pets. Already this season, 62 skunks, 3 bats, 2 raccoons, 1 fox, 1 dog, and 1 cow have tested positive for rabies across the state. Twenty-eight of the rabies-carrying skunks were in neighboring Larimer county.

In 2018, 325 animals tested positive for rabies exposing 379 domestic pets, 165 livestock, and 118 people. Post-exposure prophylaxis (e.g. medication) was recommended for 34 Boulder County residents last season due to their contact with animals that may have been infected with rabies.

“Now is the time of year when wildlife like skunks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and rodents have babies; bats begin their spring migration; and mosquitoes establish their breeding sites in standing water,” said Carol McInnes, Boulder County Public Health environmental health specialist. “When these animal populations are high, we often see outbreaks of disease in prairie dog colonies, rodents, and rabbits in neighborhoods.”

In addition, Culex mosquitoes (i.e. the mosquito that carries WNV) increase in number with wetter weather, and as temperatures rise.

“If we all take some time to tidy up around our homes, make sure our pets are current on their vaccinations, and leave wildlife alone, we can minimize the possibility of our families and pets becoming ill,” said Kaylan Stinson, Boulder County Public Health regional epidemiologist.
Residents can take a few simple steps to keep their pets and families free from disease:

• TIDY UP your property, clear the areas where rodents and rabbits can hide and multiply in numbers, and keep bird and pet food away from areas that can be visited by rodents. Drain or remove items that can collect water where mosquitos can breed. Take care when cleaning or sweeping areas that may be rodent-infested. Be particularly careful not to breathe in particles in areas where there is evidence of an active mouse infestation, such as in and around buildings or in nearby wood or junk piles.
• STAY OUT of areas inhabited by wild rodents. If you must be in areas that include wild rodents, wear insect repellent containing DEET, and dress in long sleeves and pants.
• DON’T TOUCH wild rodents, including squirrels (whether healthy, sick, or dead) and rabbits; do not feed or handle them. If a dead animal must be moved, use a long-handled shovel to place them in a garbage bag, and place the bag in an outdoor garbage can.
• PREVENT your pets from hunting or eating wild rodents or rabbits. The best protection for pets, especially cats, is to keep them indoors. If outdoors with your pets, keep them out of heavily wooded areas, as those areas are ideal places for ticks. Use flea and tick collars and other prevention measures for your pets.
• WEAR closed shoes in areas where animals have been seen sick or dead. Do not mow over animal carcasses, and use an N-95 or N-100 dust mask when mowing or doing landscape work. Also, make sure that you wear insect repellant.
• VACCINATE your pets for rabies. Rabies is always fatal unless it is treated before any symptoms appear. Treatment for rabies exposure involves a series of vaccinations.
• SEE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER if you become ill after spending time near wildlife.
• CONTACT A VETERINARIAN if your pet becomes ill after spending time near wildlife. Weekly updates of animal disease activity will be available at BoulderCountyVector.org throughout the season. Additional information about hantavirus, plague, rabies, tularemia, and West Nile virus are also available on that website.