Kansas City Health Department Urges Awareness and Precaution as Rabies Activity Increases

The Kansas City, Missouri Health Department is urging awareness and precaution among residents as the Kansas City area experiences an increase in bat exposures.

Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced that rabies cases are increasing nationwide and within the KC Metro Area. Seven bats have tested positive for rabies in Kansas City this year, the highest number of rabies-positive bats Kansas City has seen in more than 10 years.

"People should avoid handling bats and should take any possible exposure seriously," said Dr. Marvia Jones, MPH, PhD, Director of Health. "Because bat bites can be difficult to see, it is important to seek medical advice following a possible exposure."

Residents should never touch or handle a bat, whether it is alive or dead. If a bat is found inside a home, residents should contact Kansas City Animal Control at 816-513-1313 or call 311 for assistance. Animal Control will work with the Kansas City Health Department to determine
whether the bat should be tested for rabies.

What to Do if You Encounter a Bat

• Do not touch or handle the bat. Do not release the bat.
• If it is safe to do so without touching or approaching the bat, confine it to the room by closing the door and contact the Kansas City Health Department for guidance.
• If you are bitten, scratched, or have direct contact with a bat, seek medical care immediately and contact the Kansas City Health Department.
• If you wake up and find a bat in your bedroom, contact Kansas City Animal Control. If a bat is found in a room with an unattended child or someone who cannot communicate whether they had contact with the bat, contact the Health Department.
• Keep pets away from bats and make sure dogs, cats, and other eligible pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations.

Help Keep Bats Out of Your Home

Bats may increasingly seek shelter inside homes in late summer and early fall. Residents should make every effort to secure their living spaces and prevent bats from entering.

• Address tiny entrances around the house: Bats can squeeze through extremely small openings. Look closely around rooflines, fascia boards, chimneys, and window frames for possible entry points.
• Block larger access points: Use hardware cloth or steel mesh to cover vents and chimney openings while still allowing necessary airflow.
• Trim nearby trees: Cut back tree branches that hang close to your roof, keeping vegetation at least 6 to 8 feet away from exterior walls.
• Reduce outdoor insects: Turn off bright exterior lights or switch to yellow bug lights to avoid attracting the insects that bats feed on.

Rabies is most often spread through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal, but prompt medical evaluation and appropriate post-exposure treatment can prevent the disease. For questions about a possible rabies exposure or to discuss whether rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is appropriate for your situation, contact the Kansas City Health Department for guidance by calling 816-513-6008.