Rabies

Rabies in Wyoming

Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease that can infect any mammal, including humans. In Wyoming, rabies is most commonly found in bats and skunks. Humans and pets can get infected from the bites or scratches of an animal with rabies. You cannot get rabies by touching or handling an animal or its blood, feces or urine.

Although rabies is nearly always a fatal disease in humans, it can be successfully prevented if post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is started promptly after exposure and before symptoms develop. Because bat bites are not always visible, anyone who has direct contact with a bat or who wakes up with a bat in their room should immediately contact a doctor or public health provider for assessment. If possible, any bat that comes into contact with humans should be carefully captured so that rabies testing can be performed.

Remember to follow these tips to prevent rabies in you and in your pets:

• Don’t touch or feed wild or stray animals.
• Treat animal bites with soap and water and contact a medical professional immediately.
• People waking to find a bat in their room or a child’s room should contact a medical professional immediately.
• Vaccinate dogs, cats, ferrets, horses and other selected livestock for rabies and keep vaccinations up-to-date.

Questions

For questions about rabies, contact the Wyoming State Public Health Veterinarian, Dr. Emily Curren, at 307-777-5825 or emily.curren@wyo.gov.

Additional Information

Annual Maps of Rabies Positive Animals in Wyoming