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 […]

Two rabid bats found on the sidewalk near the corner of B Street NE and 3rd Street NE in Auburn

August 16, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Auburn Animal Control services were notified the morning of August 13 of two bats (1 dead, the other appeared sick) on the sidewalk near the corner of B Street NE and 3rd Street NE in Auburn. Public Health conducted an investigation and did not identify anyone who had contact with the bats. The bats tested […]

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 […]

5 things to know about bats and rabies

July 20, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

Public Health Insider has reported on multiple incidents of human/bat interactions this summer – a bat in a park bathroom, a bat at an equestrian center and a bat near Husky Stadium. Statewide, bat-human encounters broke a record this spring. So what are the essential 5 things to know about bats? Read on: 1. Anyone […]

What to do when you encounter a bat

May 24, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

Bats are an important part of our ecosystem, but it’s very important to leave them alone.

Seeking people exposed to rabid bat at UW

May 22, 2018.Reading time 1 minute.

A rabid bat was found near Husky Stadium at the University of Washington (UW) on Saturday, May 19, and at least one person was bitten. Multiple people were likely exposed to the rabid bat while attempting to help the individual remove the bat from his hand at a UW fraternity. If you may have had […]