Health

First Rabid Bat Confirmed in Spokane County

Monday, July 27, 2026

2 min read

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Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) confirmed on July 27, 2026, that a bat found in Spokane County tested positive for rabies, the first such case in the county since 2025. The bat was submitted for testing on July 24, 2026, and confirmed by the Washington State Department of Health.

Rabies is a fatal virus if untreated, and bats are the only animals in Washington known to carry it. SRHD advises residents to keep pets indoors at night, close windows and doors, and seal entry points to prevent bat contact. No people or pets were exposed to the bat, and SRHD urges anyone with bat contact to contact them at (509) 324-1560, ext. 7.

📄 Source: Local Government — https://srhd.org/news/bat-tests-positive-for-rabies-in-spokane-county-4

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Legacy automated check: the original source text was not preserved. These earlier verdicts have not passed the current publication checks and may contain errors. Source: original document ↗

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Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) confirmed on July 27, 2026, that a bat found in Spokane County tested positive for rabies“SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) confirmed by laboratory testing that a bat found in Spokane County tested positive for rabies.”
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The bat was submitted for testing on July 24, 2026No usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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The bat was confirmed by the Washington State Department of Health“As part of regular surveillance, a bat was submitted to the Washington State Public Health Laboratory for rabies testing and was confirmed positive by Washington State Department of Health (DOH) on July 24, 2026.”
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The bat tested positive for rabies is the first such case in the county since 2025“This is the first rabid bat reported in Spokane County and the fifth in Washington state in 2026 (Rabies Activity in Washington). The last positive case of rabies in a bat in Spokane County was in 2025.”
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Rabies is a fatal virus if untreated“Rabies is a virus that affects the central nervous system and can be fatal if untreated.”
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Bats are the only animals in Washington known to carry rabies“Bats are the only animals in Washington state known to carry rabies.”
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SRHD advises residents to keep pets indoors at night“Bring pets into the house at night.”
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SRHD advises residents to close windows and doors“Keep all doors and windows closed unless screened.”
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SRHD advises residents to seal entry points to prevent bat contact“Seal up junctions between roof and dormer soffit, behind downspouts and gutters, between masonry and siding, and under eaves.”
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No people or pets were exposed to the bat“No people or pets were exposed to this bat.”
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SRHD urges anyone with bat contact to contact them at (509) 324-1560, ext. 7“Contact SRHD at (509) 324-1560, ext. 7 for additional instructions.”