Bats & Rabies: What you need to know

July 17, 2020.Reading time 7 minutes.

Each summer, we receive between 70 to 100 reports of people being exposed to rabid bats in King County. And, in the recent weeks we’ve received reports of two rabid bats that interacted with humans. If you had contact with a bat, or even woke up in a room with a bat inside, you should call your medical provider immediately, in addition to reporting the exposure to Public Health at: 206-296-4774.

7 things you should know about bats & rabies

August 22, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

70% of Americans who die from rabies in the US were infected by bats – CDC Vital Signs As the weather warms up in King County, adult bats come out of hibernation, baby bats are learning to fly, and humans get outdoors, which means a big increase in human-bat interactions compared to other times of year. Bats can be infected […]

Costco takes big steps to reduce human health risk from excessive antibiotic use in agriculture

December 9, 2018.Reading time 7 minutes.

By Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer Costco, the Issaquah, WA based wholesale warehouse corporation, and one of the largest food retailers in the country, has taken a major step to reduce the risk to human health posed by antibiotic use in agriculture. As reported by the Seattle Times, the new Costco Animal Welfare Policy on […]

First locally acquired case of West Nile virus

October 29, 2018.Reading time 6 minutes.

A Seattle resident has tested positive for West Nile virus, making this the first locally acquired case of West Nile virus reported in King County. The individual, a woman in her 40s, reported symptoms including fever, headache, stiffness in the neck, and a rash. She was hospitalized for one day in mid-September and has since […]

Adorable animals: Shameless pandering for emergency preparedness

September 26, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

We know you aren’t as prepared for an emergency as you could be. Don’t feel badly–it’s true for everyone, and even though we are the health department, we’re not going to wag our finger. But we aren’t above wagging some tails. We’re here to remind you to take those next steps to be a little […]

Rabbit fever is a thing? Get to know tularemia

August 13, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Also known as rabbit fever or deer fly fever, tularemia is a rare disease caused by infection with the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It can range from mild to life-threatening, causing ulcers, gland inflammations, and in some instances, difficulty breathing. In King County, only seven cases of tularemia have been reported to Public Health over the […]