ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO) – The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating a human rabies death in a person over 65 years of age, who had exposure to a bat in western Minnesota in July 2024. This is Minnesota’s fourth case of human rabies since 2000. The diagnosis of rabies was confirmed on Sept. 20, based on testing done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
The department of health is working with the patient’s family and health care facilities where the patient was treated to evaluate whether any family members or health care workers were potentially exposed and need treatment. There is no risk to the public from the patient.
The case is an important reminder that bats in Minnesota can have rabies and that the public should avoid contact with bats.
If a person has any physical contact with a bat or finds a bat in the room of a sleeping person, unattended child, or anyone who cannot reliably communicate what happened, the bat should be captured safely and submitted for rabies testing. A bat’s teeth are so tiny that a bite may not be felt or even leave a noticeable mark.
If the bat is not available for testing, contact your health care provider quickly after the exposure for information on what to do next.
If left untreated, rabies is almost always fatal. Rabies treatment has proven to be nearly 100% effective at preventing the disease after an exposure, but it must be started before symptoms of rabies appear. Rabies treatment is not needed if the bat can be captured, tested and found to be free of the virus.
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