"Rise in Rabid Bats Sparks Health Officials' Caution in Salt Lake County"

Two bats found in Salt Lake County have tested positive for rabies, prompting health officials to urge caution and encourage anyone who made contact with a bat to be evaluated. The Salt Lake County Health Department recommended rabies prevention medicine for the two individuals who came into contact with a bat in Midvale. No other exposures have been identified, but parents whose children frequent Smith Fields Park in Draper are advised to inquire about encounters with bats. Health officials remind the public to avoid touching or hurting bats, keep children and pets away, and report bat sightings to animal control agencies. Rabies is considered 100% fatal once clinical signs appear.