Yesterday, state health officials confirmed that bats were discovered inside Atrium Health Lincoln in Lincolnton, prompting staff to move patients out of the affected area while crews sealed it off. County and state public-health teams joined commercial pest-control contractors on site to inspect the space and secure the building.
As first reported by WCNC, hospital leaders said the animals were found in a confined part of the facility, and patients in that section were relocated as a precaution while staff worked to isolate the area.
State Health Officials Weigh Rabies Risk
The North Carolina Division of Public Health said the discovery of bats raises understandable concerns about rabies, but emphasized that the virus is not spread through casual exposure. "Transmission of rabies only occurs following direct physical contact with an infectious bat," state officials told WBTV. Roughly 3% of bats tested in North Carolina are positive for the virus, according to health officials. Anyone who thinks they may have touched a bat or had direct contact is urged to speak with a doctor or local health department about whether post-exposure treatment is needed.
What Hospital And County Officials Are Doing
Atrium Health said the bats were confined to one area of the hospital and that steps were taken to safeguard patients and staff, according to reporting by WSOC. The N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation and the Lincoln County Health Department are assisting with the response, while pest-control specialists evaluate the building and work with hospital staff on next steps. Atrium Health Lincoln is a 101-bed acute-care hospital that serves as the county's primary hospital, per the system's location page.
What To Do If You May Have Been Exposed
Public-health agencies urge people to treat any possible contact with bats seriously. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that anyone who wakes up to find a bat in their room, or finds a bat near an unattended child or someone who cannot reliably explain what happened, should contact a health-care provider or public-health officials to decide whether rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is needed, according to the CDC. Lincoln County residents can find local guidance on the county health department's Board of Health page.
The North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health conducts diagnostic rabies testing, and the state says testing is typically limited to situations where results would influence clinical care, per NCDHHS. As WSOC reported, officials said no bats from the hospital had been submitted for rabies testing and that testing had not been recommended at this time.
Hospital and county leaders say they will continue to monitor the situation and adjust their risk assessment if new information emerges. Patients or family members with questions about care or current admissions can use the contact details listed on Atrium Health Lincoln.
