Rabies Exposure Alert at Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park
Health officials are notifying hundreds of individuals across multiple states and countries about potential rabies exposure linked to bat-infested cabins in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park over the last few months.
As of Friday, none of the bats examined from several of the eight affected cabins at Jackson Lake Lodge were found to have rabies. However, the few dead bats tested are likely just a small portion of many more that may have inhabited the attic above the cabins, according to Wyoming State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist.
Some bats were not harmed but were simply driven out of the cabins. Many didn’t even enter the living areas. Given this, health officials thought it wise to alert all recent visitors to these cabins about possible exposure, especially since bites or scratches could go unnoticed, particularly during sleep.
“We’re really worried about individuals who saw bats in their cabins and those who might have had direct contact,” Harrist said.
The cabins have remained empty since the Grand Teton Lodge Company discovered the bat issue on July 27 and has no plans to reopen them at this time. Bats are known carriers of the rabies virus, and once symptoms like muscle pain and vomiting arise, the disease is nearly always fatal for humans.
On a positive note, Harrist pointed out that a five-shot prophylactic treatment within two weeks after potential exposure is very effective in preventing the disease.
The cabins were reopened for the summer season in May after being closed during winter. Health officials suspect that up to 500 people might have stayed in the cabins based on around 250 bookings made until late July.
Efforts are underway to reach individuals in 38 states and seven countries through state health agencies and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for foreign visitors.
If anyone who stayed in cabins 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, or 530 this year hasn’t been contacted, they are urged to inform health officials or a doctor right away, according to Harrist.
Prophylactic shots are recommended for specific cases, such as individuals who might have been deep sleepers and found a bat in their room, as well as for young children who may not be able to report seeing a bat.
The Wyoming Department of Health has not expressed ongoing concerns regarding visitor safety at the Jackson Lake Lodge area, which will host a Federal Reserve economic conference from August 21 to 23.
Emily Curren, Wyoming’s public health veterinarian, stated, “The lodge company has done an excellent job ensuring the safety of all guests this year.”
Out of the few dead bats sent for testing, “three or four” were negative. There was one that was too damaged for testing. All of the bats were brown bats, which come in two species, both common in Wyoming, but officials are uncertain about which species were involved.
Typically, these bats live in colonies of 30 to 100, Curren noted. “That’s a lot of bats, and we can’t dismiss the risk of rabies being present,” she added, emphasizing that there’s no way to confirm the status of every bat that entered those rooms.
No extermination plans are in place for the bats, according to Grand Teton National Park spokesperson Emily Davis, who mentioned that devices are in use to prevent bats from re-entering the buildings after they leave in search of food.
