Hundreds of people may have been exposed to rabies after a suspected bat colony was discovered inside a lodge in Grand Teton National Park in recent months, national park and state health officials warned.
The bat colony was found over the past few months in cabins at the Jackson Lake Lodge, a popular eco-hotel and historic landmark located in Grand Teton National Park, according to the National Park Service. The agency has issued a notice for people who were guests at the lodge between May 5 and July 27.
Since June 2, the National Park Service said the Grand Teton Lodge Company — the concessionaire that operates the Jackson Lake Lodge — has received eight reports involving overnight guests who may have been exposed to bats in their rooms. Further investigation revealed that the colony was nesting in an attic space above those eight guest rooms.
The rooms were closed as a precaution while public health officials investigate and provide recommendations for mitigation, according to the National Park Service. The agency noted that there was no immediate threat to the public.
"Wyoming Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are leading the effort to coordinate with the affected guests' local public health officials, who will conduct rabies risk assessments," the agency added.
State health officials are reaching out to guests for rabies risk assessments and will determine whether they meet the criteria for preventive treatment, the National Park Service said. Those who meet the risk criteria will be put in contact with the "appropriate provider in their home state for preventive treatment," according to the agency.
Guests have been urged to contact the Grand Teton Lodge Company to confirm if they stayed in one of the potentially affected rooms where the bats were found, the National Park Service said.
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State and local public health officials told the Wyoming Public Radio that they were tracking down people from 38 states and seven countries who may have been exposed to rabies. Health officials were also contacting hotel employees, but noted that workers are believed to be less at risk compared to guests who stayed in the rooms, according to the radio network.
State health officials said they're aware of about 250 reservations for impacted rooms between May and July, and estimated that up to 500 people had stayed in the cabins, according to the Associated Press.
"Although there were a lot of people exposed in this incident, one positive about it is that we know who 100% of those people are," Travis Riddell, director of the Teton County Public Health Department, told Wyoming Public Radio. "People in the community in general don’t need to be concerned about this particular incident."
Some dead bats were discovered, which is likely only a small sample size of the colony, and sent to the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory for examination, the AP reported. As of Aug. 15, state health officials said none of the bats found in the affected rooms had tested positive for rabies, according to the AP.
The Wyoming Department of Health and Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's requests for comment on Aug. 17.
Bats in Teton County, Wyoming
The National Park Service said bats are an "important part in maintaining the health of the ecosystem" at Grand Teton National Park. Bats help with natural pest control by eating insects — such as mosquitoes — every night, according to the agency.
The most common species of bats found in Grand Teton National Park are little brown bats, followed by big brown, silver-haired, hoary, Yuma, long-legged, and long-eared bats, the agency said. Other bats, including California myotis and western small-footed bats, have also been found at the park.
The National Park Service noted that less than one percent of bats have rabies and has advised park visitors to follow guidelines to avoid exposure to rabies:
Observe wildlife from a safe distance. Do not touch or pet wild animals.
Alert any park official about unusual behavior in animals.
Contact the local health department or a park ranger if someone is attacked, bitten, or scratched by a wild or domestic animal.
Immediately wash a bite or scratch for 15 minutes with warm water and soap.
The bat colony found at Jackson Lake Lodge is the first mass rabies exposure event in Teton County since 2017, according to Wyoming Public Radio and Jackson Hole News and Guide. Thirteen people were preemptively treated after a bat colony was found at AMK Ranch, a research facility in Grand Teton National Park, the media outlet reported at the time.
"Prior to 2017, rabies in Teton County was practically unheard of, since then rabies in bats has been confirmed almost annually," according to the Teton County Public Health Department.
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Bat exposure to rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that can spread to people and pets through the bites or scratches of an infected animal, according to the National Park Service and CDC. In Wyoming, the National Park Service said rabies are most commonly found in bats and skunks.
Though rabies is fatal, the CDC says that it is a preventable disease, and has advised people to receive a pre-exposure vaccination for increased protection, vaccinate pets, and immediately seek medical care if exposed. The disease mostly impacts the central nervous system, and causes severe brain disease and death if medical care is not received before the onset of symptoms, according to the National Park Service.
It can take weeks to months for rabies symptoms to appear after the initial exposure, the agency said. The National Park Service added that bats are a "special concern" for rabies exposure due to the small size of their scratches and bites, which may not be noticeable to people.
"Even though rabies in animals is rare, animal exposure, especially involving bats, is treated very seriously due to the fatal outcome if the animal is rabid," according to the agency.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bat colony found in Grand Teton lodge, possibly exposing rabies
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