Introduction to the Outbreak
Health officials are working to alert hundreds of people in dozens of states and several countries who may have been exposed to rabies in bat-infested cabins in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park over the past few months.
As of Friday, none of the bats found in some of the eight linked cabins at Jackson Lake Lodge had tested positive for rabies.
The Situation at Grand Teton National Park
The handful of dead bats found and sent to the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory in Laramie for testing were probably only a small sample of the likely dozens that colonized the attic above the row of cabins, Wyoming State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist said. Other bats weren’t killed but got shooed out through cabin doors and windows. Meanwhile, the vast majority never flapped down from the attic into living spaces.
Health Concerns and Precautions
Health officials thus deemed it better safe than sorry to alert everybody who has stayed in the cabins recently that they might have been exposed by being bitten or scratched. Especially when people are sleeping, a bat bite or scratch can go unseen and unnoticed. “What we’re really concerned about is people who saw bats in their rooms and people who might have had direct contact with a bat,” Harrist said Friday.
Closure of the Cabins
The cabins have been unoccupied, with no plans to reopen, since concessionaire Grand Teton Lodge Company discovered the bat problem July 27. Bats are a frequent vector of the rabies virus. Once symptoms occur — muscle aches, vomiting, itching, to name a few — rabies is almost always fatal in humans.
Treatment and Prevention
The good news is a five-shot prophylactic regimen over a two-week period soon after exposure is highly effective in preventing illness, Harrist noted. The cabins opened for the summer season in May after being vacant over the winter. Based on the roughly 250 reservations through late July, health officials estimated that up to 500 people had stayed in the cabins.
Efforts to Reach Those Exposed
They were trying to reach people in 38 states and seven countries through those states’ health agencies and, in the case of foreign visitors, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Others who have not been alerted yet but stayed in cabins 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528 and 530 this year should tell health officials or a doctor immediately, Harrist said.
Recommendations for Those Exposed
Health officials were recommending prophylactic shots for people who fit certain criteria, such as deep sleepers who found a bat in their room, and children too young to say that they had seen a bat. A woman visiting Arizona was hit with a steep medical bill after a bat flew into her mouth while she was screaming. “It was a freak accident. I’m not sure what part of the bat was there, but … I got a taste of it.”
Safety at the Jackson Lake Lodge Area
The Wyoming Department of Health had no ongoing concern about visitor safety at the Jackson Lake Lodge area. That includes a Federal Reserve economic policy symposium Aug. 21-23 that takes place at Jackson Lake Lodge every summer. “The lodge company has done a fantastic job of doing their due diligence of making sure everyone that is coming in for that, and for all other visits this year, are going to be as safe as possible,” said Emily Curren, Wyoming’s public health veterinarian.
Conclusion
The situation at Grand Teton National Park highlights the importance of vigilance and swift action in the face of potential health risks. By alerting those who may have been exposed and providing prophylactic treatment, health officials aim to prevent any cases of rabies. The incident also serves as a reminder of the need for awareness and precautions when interacting with wildlife, even in unexpected settings like national park cabins.
FAQs
- Q: What is the situation with the bat-infested cabins in Grand Teton National Park?
A: Hundreds of people who stayed in the cabins may have been exposed to rabies due to the presence of bats. - Q: Have any bats tested positive for rabies?
A: As of the latest update, none of the bats found and tested had rabies, but the risk cannot be ruled out due to the large number of bats involved. - Q: What should individuals who stayed in the affected cabins do?
A: They should contact health officials or a doctor immediately, especially if they saw bats in their rooms or had direct contact with a bat. - Q: Is there a treatment for potential exposure to rabies?
A: Yes, a five-shot prophylactic regimen over a two-week period is highly effective in preventing illness if administered soon after exposure. - Q: Are the cabins still open?
A: No, the cabins have been closed since the discovery of the bat problem in late July, with no plans to reopen.
