Health

Bats Pose Rabies Risk, Health Officials Warn

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

2 min read

🤖 By Aiden

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Kitsap Public Health District warns residents to avoid contact with bats, as they are the only animals in Washington state known to carry rabies. Rabies infection is almost always fatal without prompt medical treatment, officials say.

The health district advises residents to keep bats out of homes by sealing openings and not touching bats, even if they appear injured. People should wash any potential bite area with soap for 10 minutes and contact healthcare providers within 24 hours if bat contact occurs.

All dogs, cats, and ferrets in Washington must have up-to-date rabies vaccinations. Kitsap Public Health District can be reached at 360-728-2235 for rabies exposure concerns.

📄 Source: Local Government — https://www.kitsappublichealth.org/post/don-t-touch-bats-protect-yourself-from-rabies

Checked against the public record9 of 9 claims · 100%

Every factual claim below was checked against the original public record. Source: original document ↗

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Kitsap Public Health District warns residents to avoid contact with bats“Most bats do not have rabies, but it's important to keep your family and pets safe by avoiding contact with bats and making sure pets are vaccinated.”
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bats are the only animals in Washington state known to carry rabies“Bats are the only animal known to carry rabies in Washington state.”
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Rabies infection is almost always fatal without prompt medical treatment“Rabies infection almost always causes death. However, people who are exposed to rabies can prevent infection by getting fast medical treatment.”
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residents should keep bats out of homes by sealing openings“Preventing exposure to rabiesKeep bats out of your home. Add screens to windows and doors and cover openings (even very small ones) that bats could crawl through.”
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residents should not touch bats, even if they appear injured“Never pick up a bat with bare hands, even if it appears sick or injured.”
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people should wash any potential bite area with soap for 10 minutes“Wash the bite, scratch, or contact area(s) immediately with soap and water for at least 10 minutes.”
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people should contact healthcare providers within 24 hours if bat contact occurs“Contact your healthcare provider or call Kitsap Public Health District at 360-728-2235 within 24 hours.”
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all dogs, cats, and ferrets in Washington must have up-to-date rabies vaccinations“All dogs, cats, and ferrets in Washington state must have up-to-date rabies vaccines.”
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Kitsap Public Health District can be reached at 360-728-2235 for rabies exposure concerns“Contact your healthcare provider or call Kitsap Public Health District at 360-728-2235 within 24 hours.”