Rabid bat found near UW campus in Seattle ; public urged to seek care after any contact
Fri, July 17, 2026 at 4:58 PM
UpdatedFri, July 17, 2026 at 5:01 PM
An image of the bat. (courtesy: Public Health – Seattle & King County)
SEATTLE —A bat found on a busy sidewalk near the University of Washington has tested positive for rabies, and public <a href="https://healthylife7.com/health-officials-warn-of-measles-exposures-at-tempe-marketplace-surprise-walmart/" title="Health officials warn of measles exposures at Tempe Marketplace, Surprise Walmart”>health officials are urging anyone who may have touched it to seek medical help right away
The rabid bat was found Wednesday by Public Health – Seattle & King County on the sidewalk on University Way Northeast between Northeast 41st and Northeast 42nd streets, near Parrington Lawn on the UW campus
The area is described as a busy location with many businesses
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The agency has received multiple public calls about the bat on Wednesday and directed people to contact animal control
The bat was euthanized by an animal control agency on Thursday. Public Health tested the bat and received a positive rabies test on Friday
Public Health confirmed the callers who reported the bat did not have physical contact with it, and to date, no other people are known to have been exposed
Still, officials said anyone who might have had physical contact with the bat — even without a bite — could be at risk and should seek medical evaluation immediately or call Public Health at 206-296-4774 to determine whether rabies preventative treatment is necessary
“Rabies is treatable if caught before symptoms appear, so identifying anyone who has had contact with the bat as soon as possible is important,” said Jocelyn Mullins, Public Health veterinarian at Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Contact includes touching a bat, being bitten or scratched, or having any other bare skin contact with a bat or its saliva.”
Rabies is a life-threatening disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, but it can be prevented if treatment is given before symptoms appear, Public Health said
Officials said any person or animal that touched or had contact with the bat or its saliva could be at risk of getting rabies
Public Health also offered guidance for people who find bats:
- If you see a bat outside, do not touch it. If you are concerned the bat is sick, call animal control.
- If you find a bat inside your house, Public Health recommends calling 206-296-4774 to discuss the situation and determine whether the bat needs to be tested for rabies. The agency said it tests bats for rabies at no charge under certain circumstances.
- If a bat has not come into contact with a person or pet, officials said to open windows and allow the bat to leave, close doors to other parts of the home, and secure pets away from the location of the bat.
- If a bat had direct contact with a person’s bare skin or with a pet, or if a person woke up to a bat in the room where they were sleeping, Public Health said the bat should be captured and might need to be tested for rabies.
- Officials advised using a shovel or thick gloves to put a dead bat in a box for testing and said not to throw it away.
