A tiny bat has kicked off Utah's 2026 rabies season, and health officials in Washington County are not thrilled about it.
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department confirmed Monday that a bat found in Washington County tested positive for rabies, the first rabid bat identified in Utah this year. The animal was collected and sent in for laboratory testing, and officials are now reminding residents to steer clear of wildlife and to make sure pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations.
According to the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, bats are the primary carriers of rabies in Utah, and people should never handle wild animals with their bare hands. The department advises residents to call animal control if they see stray animals or wildlife acting strangely. Anyone who wakes up to find a bat in their bedroom is urged to assume a bite may have occurred and seek medical care. Pet owners are also being reminded, again, to keep rabies vaccinations current.
What To Do After a Possible Exposure
Rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms show up, but treatment that starts in time can stop the virus before it causes illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) includes thorough wound cleansing, human rabies immune globulin when indicated, and a series of rabies vaccines.
"Rabies becomes fatal once symptoms start, but getting a rabies vaccine early enough can save your life," Adrianna Vidal, an epidemiologist with SWUPHD, told KSL NewsRadio.
State Rules on Pets and Testing
Utah's rabies control rule (R386-702-12) requires dogs, cats, and ferrets to be immunized and allows local health departments to order quarantine or other control measures after possible exposures.
The rule also specifies that a bat found in a room with a sleeping person or an unattended child qualifies for testing at the Utah Public Health Laboratory without a fee. It lays out quarantine and testing procedures for animals that may have been exposed. Residents are advised to review the rule for testing criteria and any potential fees in other situations.
Local Contacts and Next Steps
If you think you or a pet may have been exposed, wash any bites or scratches immediately with soap and water, then seek medical care right away. To report a strange-acting animal or to ask questions, contact the Southwest Utah Public Health Department at (435) 668-0342 or reach out to your city animal control. The department's rabies page lists local resources and step-by-step instructions.
The Southwest Utah Public Health Department is maintaining up-to-date guidance for residents in Washington County as the investigation and monitoring continue.
Why Officials Are Paying Attention
State surveillance data show that hundreds of animals are tested for rabies in Utah each year, and only a small portion come back positive. Even so, public health officials warn that encounters with bats can be subtle or go unnoticed, which is why any bat contact is treated as a serious concern.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services maintains monthly and annual rabies summaries along with testing guidance for clinicians and animal control partners. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services provides those reports.
