Utah Monthly Rabies Surveillance Report
December, 2019
Summary
No positive bats were reported in December, totaling 12 positive bats in 2019. Positive bats have been reported in the following health districts: Bear River, Central, Davis, Southwest, Utah County and Weber/Morgan. During a five-year period between January and December, an average of 22.37 positive bats are reported positive in Utah. The five-year average number of positive bat specimens in Utah for the month of December is 0.
In 2018, a total of 14 bats tested positive for rabies virus in Utah, which is lower than the five-year average of 20 positive bats. Six (43%) of the 14 positive bats were Mexican free-tailed bat species. Of the 309 animals submitted to the Utah Public Health Laboratory (UPHL) for rabies testing, there were 147 bats, 65 cats, 47 dogs, 35 raccoons, 6 skunks and 9 other species. Animals submitted to UPHL for laboratory testing are categorized by the county of the submitting facility. The only animals that may be submitted for rabies testing are those assessed to be at risk for rabies transmission, and in most cases, have potentially exposed a human or domestic animal.
Background: Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. In Utah, bats are the primary source of rabies virus. The last non-bat rabid animal identified through testing was a skunk in 2014, and prior to that, a fox in 2006. Both were infected with a bat strain of rabies virus. Because human rabies is considered virtually 100% fatal, it is critical to engage public health to evaluate exposure and ensure life-saving post-exposure prophylaxis is provided when necessary.
Rabid Bat by County, Utah
NOTE: Positive bat counts are indicated with a black data point. Data points overlaid on map are randomly generated and do not indicate exact locations in each individual county where the animals were found.
Rabid Bat Counts by Month
| Health District | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | YTD Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear River | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Central | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Davis | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Salt Lake | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| San Juan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southeast | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southwest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SouthWest | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Summit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tooele | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TriCounty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Utah County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Wasatch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Weber Morgan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Note: | ||||||||
| Rabies surveillance occurs during all months of the year. The months presented here are the only months with positive samples. |
Rabid Bats by Species and County
| Health District | Big brown | Brazilian Free-tailed | Hoary | Mexican Free-tailed | Myotis | Silver haired | Unknown | Western Pipistrelle | YTD Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear River | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Central | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Davis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Salt Lake | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| San Juan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southeast | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Southwest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Summit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tooele | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TriCounty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Utah County | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Wasatch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Weber Morgan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
Number of Rabies positive bat specimens
Rabies positive bat specimens, 2008-2018
