Southwest Montana News

State and local public health officials in Montana are alerting residents about the ongoing risk of rabies as summer nears. The likelihood of encounters between humans and wild animals rises during spring and summer due to increased outdoor activities.

The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) reported the first rabid animal case this year on June 13, 2023. A striped skunk in Powder River County tested positive for rabies. In 2022, out of the animals submitted for testing to the Montana Department of Livestock (DOL), 13 were confirmed positive for rabies, including nine bats, three skunks, and one dog.

Exposure to bats and skunks poses a high risk for rabies infection in both humans and animals. Although bites from vaccinated domestic animals are considered lower-risk exposures, they still require caution.

Rabies is a fatal disease transmitted through the saliva of infected mammals via bites. According to the CDC, human deaths from rabies in the United States are rare, averaging one to two per year since the 1990s. Preventative treatment has significantly reduced these fatalities since the early 20th century, with Montana's last recorded human death occurring in 1997.

Jessica Lopeman, a registered nurse and epidemiologist with DPHHS stated: “Rabies can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with stray or wild animals and seeking preventive treatment if you think you have been exposed.” She clarified that rabies is not spread through indirect contact such as touching objects contaminated by potentially rabid animals.

For individuals bitten by domestic pets like dogs or cats, observation of the animal often suffices to avoid treatment. However, if an animal cannot be observed or tested, a series of shots may be necessary to prevent infection. Preliminary data from 2022 indicated that preventative treatment was recommended or administered to 210 Montana residents.

Lopeman advised reporting all interactions with potentially rabid mammals to local health departments for risk assessment: “Any bat that has physical contact with a person...should be tested for rabies when possible,” she said. Testing is not recommended without exposure evidence.

To prevent exposure to rabies, DPHHS suggests several measures:

- Avoid feeding or handling wild animals.

- Educate children about avoiding wildlife.

- Ensure pets are vaccinated against rabies.

- Bat-proof homes by sealing entry points.

- Report abnormal behavior in wild animals to authorities.

For more information on preventing rabies exposure, visit the DPHHS website at dphhs.mt.gov or reach out to your local health department.