The New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed that a bat found in Sandoval County tested positive for rabies, according to News From The States. The report is the latest in a recurring pattern of bat-related rabies detections that health officials monitor each year across the state.
Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear. Bats are one of the most common wildlife carriers in the United States. Health officials consistently warn that bat bites can be small enough to go unnoticed, making it possible for someone to have been exposed without realizing it.
The New Mexico Department of Health did not report any human exposures connected to this specific bat. However, officials urged anyone who may have had direct contact with a bat, including waking up to find one in a room, to contact health authorities and seek evaluation for possible post-exposure treatment.
Post-exposure prophylaxis, a series of shots given after a potential exposure, is highly effective at preventing the disease if administered before symptoms begin. Once symptoms develop, there is no established treatment.
Sandoval County residents were advised to avoid contact with wild bats and to make sure pets are current on their rabies vaccinations. Officials also recommended sealing any openings in homes that could allow bats to enter.
