Health officials are currently trying to notify hundreds of individuals across various states and countries who might have come into contact with rabies due to bat infestations at cabins in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.
As of Friday, tests on bats from several cabins at Jackson Lake Lodge have yet to show any rabies presence.
However, according to Wyoming State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist, the few deceased bats sent for testing likely only represent a small fraction of the numerous bats that might have made their home in the attic above these cabins.
Some bats were simply shooed away, while most never ventured into the living areas.
Given this situation, health officials opted to inform all recent cabin guests of possible exposure through bites or scratches, as such incidents can easily go unnoticed, especially during sleep.
“Our main concern is with those who may have seen bats in their rooms or had direct contact,” Harrist said.
The cabins have remained closed since July 27, when the issue was first identified by the Grand Teton Lodge Company.
Bats are known carriers of the rabies virus. Once symptoms appear—such as muscle aches and vomiting—rabies is typically fatal for humans.
The reassuring part, Harrist noted, is that a five-shot preventive treatment shortly after exposure is largely effective in preventing the disease.
The cabins were opened for the summer season in May after being unused over the winter. With approximately 250 bookings before late July, health officials estimate that as many as 500 individuals could have stayed in those cabins.
Efforts are underway to reach visitors in 38 states and seven international locations via health agencies and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Those who stayed in cabins numbered 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, and 530 this year and who haven’t been contacted yet, should inform health officials or a doctor right away, Harrist urged.
Prophylactic shots are being recommended for some individuals, particularly deep sleepers who might find a bat in their room and young children who may not be able to communicate that they saw one.
The Wyoming Department of Health does not currently have safety concerns for visitors at Jackson Lake Lodge, including during an upcoming economic policy symposium set for August 21-23.
Emily Curren, Wyoming’s public health veterinarian, stated that the lodge company is diligently ensuring safety for all visitors this year.
Curren mentioned that “three or four” dead bats tested negative for the virus, while one bat was too damaged for testing.
The bats were identified as brown bats, which include both “little” and “big” species—though it’s unclear which species they belong to as both are common in Wyoming.
Typically, these bats form colonies of 30 to 100, Curren noted.
“That’s a significant number of bats, so we can’t entirely rule out the rabies risk,” she explained. “There’s no definitive way to confirm every bat that entered the rooms.”
According to Grand Teton National Park spokesperson Emily Davis, there are no plans for bat extermination. Measures are in place to prevent bats from re-entering the building after they exit for food.
