Facility Pest Infestations Can Lead to Rabies

Facility managers watch for infestations of insects and rodents to protect the health and safety of building residents. Authorities in Utah are warning of the dangers of bats following reports of numerous home infestations, FOX news reports.

In Utah, bats are the primary carrier of the rabies virus. Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease that can affect the brain, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the U.S., rabies is mostly found in wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.

Facility managers dealing with a bat infestation are advised not to touch any bats, whether they are alive or dead, and seek assistance from animal control professionals. As bats have small teeth and claws, a bat’s bite or scratch may be undetected. If you even suspect you or someone in our facility may have been bitten or scratched by a bat, call your health care provider or local public health department immediately to report the possible exposure and determine whether preventive treatment is necessary.