Rabies Alert in Weber and Morgan Counties

OGDEN — Health officials in Weber and Morgan counties are urging residents to check that their pets are up-to-date on vaccinations and to avoid contact with bats or other wild animals following a rabid bat discovery in Morgan County.

Amy Carter, a communicable disease nurse from the Weber-Morgan Health Department, mentioned that while bats are essential for our ecosystem and most of them are healthy, a bat seen during the day or in an accessible location might be sick.

The recent positive rabies test marks Utah’s first rabies-affected bat case for 2025. Carter noted that as the weather gets warmer, the likelihood of encountering rabid animals grows.

Rabies affects the brain and nervous system in infected animals and can be deadly if not treated promptly — this includes vaccinations for pets before exposure and vaccinations for humans afterward.

The World Health Organization indicates that rabies is transmitted through saliva, typically via bites, scratches, or contact with mucosal areas such as the eyes and mouth. Rabies cannot be spread through feces, blood, or urine.

Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal.

In Utah, bats are the primary carriers of rabies, although skunks, raccoons, foxes, and unvaccinated pets can also be vectors. It’s mandatory in Utah for cats and dogs to receive rabies vaccinations.

The Weber-Morgan Health Department offered these rabies prevention tips:

• Ensure your pet’s vaccinations are current; check with your veterinarian and keep vaccination records accessible.
• Avoid wild animals. If an animal appears sick, injured, or is behaving oddly, contact local animal control.
• If bitten or scratched by a bat or other wild animal, wash the wound with soap and water immediately and consult a healthcare provider. If it’s safe, contain the bat and reach out to the Utah Division of Wildlife Services to have it tested for rabies.
• Any encounters with a bat in sleeping areas should be reported, as small bites or scratches from bats can transmit the virus.

Carter emphasized the importance of vaccinations, stating it prevents rabies in pets, saving time and potential distress if they become involved in an incident with a rabid animal.

In October 2024, a bat in Pioneer Park tested positive for rabies, with health officials warning that it might have been handled by multiple people for an extended period.

For more details about bats, animals, and rabies, you can visit the Utah Department of Health and Human Services website.