Missoula Animal Services Warns About Rabies after Positive Bat Tests
MISSOULA, Mont. — Missoula Animal Services is urging pet owners to vaccinate their animals after two bats tested positive for rabies in the area. While bats are the primary rabies carriers in Missoula County, unvaccinated cats, dogs, and stray animals can also spread the disease.
Important Safety Measures:
- Avoid direct contact with bats: Do not touch or handle bats, whether alive or dead.
- Seek medical attention if bitten: If you come into contact with a bat, seek immediate medical care and report the exposure to the Missoula Public Health Infectious Disease Department at 406-258-3896.
- Report pet exposures: Contact Missoula Animal Services at 406-541-7387 for any incidents involving pets.
Vaccination Reminder:
Rabies affects the brain and nervous system and is typically fatal once symptoms appear. The disease can be prevented by:
- Vaccinating pets against rabies.
- Seeking prompt medical treatment after potential exposure.
Pet owners whose animals are unvaccinated or have expired vaccines should reach out to their veterinarians as soon as possible.
Precautions if Encountering a Bat:
- Never handle a bat.
- In case of accidental contact, consider it a potential rabies exposure.
- If a bat is found in a home or behaves unusually in public, contact Animal Services.
For More Information:
For additional details on rabies, residents can visit the Missoula Public Health website here.
Animal Services Manager Holli Hargrove emphasized the importance of awareness: “While human rabies exposure is rare, we want to ensure people know how to respond if they encounter a bat.”
For further assistance or to report any incidents, don’t hesitate to call the relevant services. Stay informed and keep your pets safe!
