Health officials are taking proactive measures to alert hundreds of individuals across multiple states and several countries regarding potential exposure to rabies. This warning comes in light of the discovery of bat-infested cabins at Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park over the past few months. As of the latest update on Friday, none of the bats found in the eight linked cabins at Jackson Lake Lodge have tested positive for the rabies virus. However, health experts caution that the handful of deceased bats sent for testing to the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory in Laramie likely represents only a small fraction of the numerous bats that may have inhabited the attic space above the cabins.
According to Wyoming State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist, other bats in the area were not exterminated but were instead shooed away from the cabins through doors and windows. The majority remained in the attic, which prompted health officials to issue a warning to anyone who has stayed in the cabins recently. The concern arises particularly from the fact that a bat bite or scratch can go unnoticed, especially during sleep. “What we’re really concerned about is people who saw bats in their rooms and those who might have had direct contact with a bat,” Harrist explained during a press conference.
The cabins have remained unoccupied since the Grand Teton Lodge Company identified the bat issue on July 27, with no immediate plans to reopen them. Bats are known carriers of the rabies virus, and once symptoms manifest—such as muscle aches, vomiting, and itching—the disease is almost always fatal in humans. Fortunately, Harrist highlighted that a five-shot prophylactic treatment administered over two weeks can be highly effective in preventing the onset of rabies post-exposure.
The cabins, which reopened for the summer season in May after being vacant over the winter, received approximately 250 reservations through late July. Health officials estimate that as many as 500 people may have stayed in the cabins during this time. Efforts are underway to contact individuals across 38 states and seven countries via state health agencies and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Curren reiterated the importance of vigilance, stating, “That’s a lot of bats that we cannot rule out a risk of rabies being in.” There are currently no plans to exterminate the bats, as devices have been installed to prevent their re-entry into the cabins after they fly out to hunt for insects.
