Rabid bat found in King County: What you should know to protect yourself, your family, and your pets

June 13, 2023.Reading time 7 minutes.

An eastern King County resident and their unvaccinated puppy were exposed to rabies after potentially coming in contact with a bat in the bushes near their home. The bat was collected and sent to the Washington State Public Health Lab where it tested positive for rabies. In situations like these, Public Health will make recommendations for potentially exposed humans and animals.

What to do if a rat comes up your toilet

January 18, 2023.Reading time 5 minutes.

A rat in a sewer pipe sniffs at tendrils of aroma. The rat pictures in a burger in a thought bubble.

Heavy rains and flooding can send more rats into the sewer system. Find out the simple steps to deal with a rat in your toilet.

Rabid bat found near Alki Beach Pier in West Seattle

October 6, 2022.Reading time 6 minutes.

A rabid bat was found by the sidewalk adjacent to the Duwamish Head Condominiums (1140 Alki Ave SW) on September 18 – 19, 2022, near Alki Beach Pier in West Seattle. If you or someone you know had any contact with a bat near this area, seek medical evaluation immediately or contact Public Health – Seattle & King County.

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 […]