Hundreds Get Rabies Warning After Stay in National Park
Health officials are working to notify hundreds of people who may have been exposed to rabies after staying in bat-infested cabins at Jackson Lake Lodge in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.
Bats were discovered in the attics above eight cabins, and while none of the dead bats tested so far have shown signs of rabies, experts warn they may represent only a small fraction of a larger colony. Many of the bats were not captured but simply shooed out of the cabins, prompting a broad alert to former guests as a precaution.
Rabies is a deadly virus once symptoms appear, but it is highly preventable with prompt treatment. Officials are urging anyone who stayed in cabins 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, or 530 between May and late July to contact health authorities, especially if they saw a bat indoors or may have had direct contact while sleeping—when bites or scratches can go unnoticed.
“These are the people we’re most concerned about,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, Wyoming’s state health officer.
The cabins, operated by the Grand Teton Lodge Company, have been closed since the bat issue was discovered on July 27 and will remain so. Officials estimate up to 500 people from 38 states and seven countries may have stayed in the affected cabins.
Health officials are recommending post-exposure rabies shots for those who meet certain risk factors, such as deep sleepers, young children, or anyone with confirmed or suspected contact with a bat.
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